Chapter 1810 : Escape Through the Primordial Chaos

"Since that is the case, then I shall escort you back to the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain."

Upon hearing this, Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor exchanged a glance with Celestial Maiden and then spoke.

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment, performing a brief divination with his fingers before replying, "There is no need for such trouble. If you transport me a distance into the Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation], he should lose our trail."

Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor glanced beyond the confines of the Horizon Sea Grotto-Heaven [a blessed realm of cultivation] and gave a slight nod. "That Golden Crow [a mythical solar bird] has indeed given up the pursuit."

A faint smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips. According to his calculations, Golden Crow Ancient Immortal had departed long ago.

This was indeed the truth. Ever since Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor and Celestial Maiden had broken through to become Ancient Immortals [immortals who have transcended mortal limits and weathered countless ages] and both shattered the barriers of the Threefold Heavens [a profound cultivation trial], Golden Crow Ancient Immortal had abandoned this opportunity to strike at Eldrin Chen.

After all, Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor and Celestial Maiden were both Three Tribulations Ancient Immortal [Ancient Immortals who have survived three heavenly tribulations], far surpassing ordinary Ancient Immortal Great Power. If Golden Crow Ancient Immortal had truly attempted to ambush Eldrin Chen, he would have risked bringing calamity upon himself.

Since Golden Crow Ancient Ancestor had departed, Eldrin Chen saw no reason to linger. At dawn the next day, Eldrin Chen, Lyra Jiang, and their party of six took their leave.

However, Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor and Celestial Maiden insisted on escorting them, disregarding all protests and accompanying the group deep into the Depths of Chaos.

They journeyed together for over a thousand years. Seeing they were now immeasurably distant from the Frigid Immortal Domain, Eldrin Chen finally spoke up. "We are now far indeed from the Frigid Immortal Domain. Even an Ancient Immortals would find it difficult to divine our location across such a gulf of Primordial Chaos." Original publication: audio‑novel.com - The source of this chapter.

"Both of you should return now. I await the day when you have fully consolidated your cultivation and can take me to journey along the fringes of the Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state before the creation of the cosmos]."

Hearing this, Horizon Sea Ancient Ancestor nodded slightly with a smile and said, "Very well. You must also be careful on your journey."

Celestial Maiden also nodded, bidding farewell with a gentle smile. "Then we shall meet again in three hundred thousand years."

After bidding them farewell, Eldrin Chen led the other five deeper into the Depths of Chaos for over three hundred years. Only after confirming that their path could no longer be divined did he activate the Abyssal Pearl to cleave through the boundless Primordial Chaos and return to the Abyssal Grotto-Heaven [a pocket dimension or paradise realm].

Upon arriving at the Abyssal Grotto-Heaven, Eldrin Chen immediately proceeded to the location within the Primordial Chaos where the Abyssal Universe resided—the very heart of his Celestial Domain [the personal universe or realm of a Celestial Immortal].

"It is time to break through to the Seventh Heaven Immortal [the seventh tier of the Celestial Immortal realm]."

Gazing upon the magnificent and resplendent Abyssal Ruins Grand Universe, Eldrin Chen murmured softly to himself, a trace of pride coloring his expression.

When he had first broken through to the Mid Celestial Immortal Realm, his Abyssal Universe had spanned five hundred million light-years in diameter.

Now, having cultivated all the way to the perfection of the Sixth Heaven Celestial Immortal, the diameter of his Minor Universe had swelled by a full thirty percent without him even noticing, approaching seven hundred million light-years.

Typically, the Cosmos [personal universe] of a cultivator at the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm ranges only between three and five hundred million light-years in diameter.

It is said that some of the weaker First Calamity Ancient Immortals possess Cosmos with diameters of merely eight hundred million light-years.

The scale of Eldrin Chen's Cosmos, while not yet matching the Grand Universe of Ancient Immortals which spans over a billion light-years, far surpasses the limits of the Heaven Immortal Realm.

Witnessing this, Lyra Jiang by his side could not help but praise, "My Husband's Cosmos nearly rivals the Grand Universe of an Ancient Immortal. It is already vast and boundless. Once it ascends to an Immortal Domain in the future, it will likely rank among the very pinnacle of such domains."

"The Immortal Domain forged by a Great Luo Golden Immortal is far beyond our comprehension. My Cosmos compared to theirs is but A Drop in the Vast Ocean," Eldrin Chen replied, shaking his head.

Eldrin Chen then continued, "The immediate priority is for me to achieve a breakthrough into the Late Heaven Immortal Realm."

Hearing this, Lyra Jiang nodded in agreement and said no more.

Without further delay, Eldrin Chen immediately consumed a vial of Heaven-Earth Creation Water.

The Heaven-Earth Creation Water possesses miraculous properties. A measure of eighty-one drops can increase one's chances of breaking through to the Late Heaven Immortal Realm by thirty percent, making it an artifact of immense and priceless value.

For his own breakthrough into the Late Heaven Immortal Realm, Eldrin Chen was not stingy. This time, he consumed three times the standard measure in one go.

"It is still not enough," he murmured.

Sensing the energy of the Heaven-Earth Creation Water [a primordial spiritual liquid said to contain the essence of creation itself], Eldrin Chen could not help but frown slightly between his brows.

His foundation was far too profound and vast, his Deep-Seated Foundation [the consolidated base of a cultivator's power and potential] surpassing that of his peers in the Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to immortality] realm by many times. Therefore, even after consuming a dosage three times the amount typically required to break through to the Late Heaven Immortal Realm [a specific stage within the Immortal realm], it still felt insufficient.

Thus, Eldrin Chen did not hesitate and continued to take out and consume large quantities of Heaven-Earth Creation Water.

The fourth portion, the fifth portion, the sixth portion…

"Boom—"

Only when the twelfth portion of Heaven-Earth Creation Water entered his abdomen did Eldrin Chen suddenly perceive an immeasurable explosion of energy within his body, as if a vast Grand Universe [the cosmos or the totality of existence] had detonated. Continue reading this story at audio-novel . com.

Twelve portions of Heaven-Earth Creation Water, each containing a full eighty-one drops. Consuming such a quantity of this Creation [the primordial force of creation and genesis] essence in succession amounted to nearly one thousand drops in total—a dosage that even a cultivator at the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal realm] could not withstand.

Even a Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm cultivator, if they were to ingest so much Heaven-Earth Creation Water, would likely perish from bodily explosion if they failed to exhaust this energy by using it to charge the breakthrough to the Ancient Immortals [a venerable and powerful class of immortals].

As for those below the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm, daring to consume such a massive amount of Heaven-Earth Creation Water at once would be nothing short of seeking their own demise.

Yet, Eldrin Chen's Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a legendary, nigh-unbreakable bodily constitution gifted from birth] was far too formidable. Even as this torrential, majestic power ceaselessly scoured his being, there was not the slightest risk of his body exploding.

"Seize this moment, break through in one fell swoop!"

With a flash of determination, Eldrin Chen began circulating his cultivation art, propelling his cultivation base towards the Late Heaven Immortal Realm [the realm of a Late Heaven Immortal, a powerful stage of immortal cultivation].

Having already achieved the Great Completion stage of the Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a supreme, nigh-unbreakable physical constitution], there existed no true bottleneck in his advancement to Seventh Heaven Immortal [the Seventh Heaven Immortal realm]. This breakthrough presented no significant obstacle.

As Eldrin Chen made his assault, the barrier of the Late Heaven Immortal Realm shattered in an instant.

Immediately following, Eldrin Chen's Mana [the refined spiritual energy used by cultivators], Physical Body, and Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] all grew increasingly potent, nourished by this surging power.

"Boom—!"

A violent, rumbling roar echoed as Eldrin Chen's Abyssal Universe [his personal inner cosmos, the Abyssal Universe] began to expand, becoming vaster and more boundless. It voraciously inhaled and exhaled Chaos Qi [the primordial, formless energy that predates creation], swelling continuously.

In the blink of an eye, the diameter of the Abyssal Universe increased by tens of millions of light-years, and it continued to grow without cease.

Time flowed on in this manner. Only when the Abyssal Universe's diameter reached one billion light-years did its expansion gradually begin to slow.

"A Cosmos with a diameter of one billion light-years."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his gaze erupting with a dazzling, wondrous light.

A Cosmos spanning ten billion light-years [a unit of astronomical distance] in size—that is the threshold for the Ancient Immortal Realm [a profound cultivation stage where one becomes an immortal from ancient times]. Generally speaking, the Cosmos of the vast majority of First Calamity Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived their first heavenly tribulation] are no larger than this.

To surpass this scale is typically an achievement reserved for those at the Second Calamity or Three Tribulations Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has weathered three heavenly tribulations] level.

It is said the Cosmos diameter of a Second Calamity Ancient Immortals [beings who have achieved immortality in ancient times] is roughly fifteen billion light-years, while that of a Three Tribulations Ancient Immortal starts at a minimum of twenty billion.

For Ancient Immortals beyond the Fourth Calamity, their Cosmos diameters become increasingly staggering and begin to expand at an accelerated rate.

Legends speak of Four Calamities Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived four heavenly tribulations] with diameters exceeding thirty billion light-years, Fifth Rank Ancient Immortals surpassing forty-five billion, and Six Tribulations Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived six heavenly tribulations] starting at sixty billion light-years across.

The Cosmos of a Seven Calamities Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived seven heavenly tribulations] is said to be at least one hundred billion light-years in diameter.

It is from the level of the Seven Calamities Ancient Immortal onward that the Cosmos they forge earns the right to be called a Grand Universe [a universe of immense, majestic scale].

It is rumored that some supremely powerful Eight Calamity Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations] can create transcendent Cosmos exceeding one trillion light-years in span. Such a scale means it can no longer be dismissed as a mere speck of dust, even when compared to an entire Immortal Domain [a vast realm inhabited by immortals].

If one were to liken the 'Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea' [a specific, vast immortal region] to a celestial star, then an ordinary Minor Universe [a smaller, self-contained cosmos] would be akin to a single grain of dust upon its surface.

That Cosmos spanning a hundred billion light-years could be likened to a hundred-Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] tall tower upon a star. Though still insignificant compared to an Immortal Domain [a vast realm governed by immortal laws], it was no longer like an ordinary Minor Universe [a small, self-contained cosmos], which would be but a speck of dust upon that same star.

"Within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad immortal realms], Grand Universes [cosmic structures of immense scale] with diameters exceeding several hundred billion light-years are virtually non-existent."

A Cosmos of this magnitude could already withstand the constant erosion of the Sea of Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse from which all things emerge]. It was merely A Step Away [on the very cusp, within reach] from ascending into a true Immortal Domain.

Those Eight Calamity Ancient Immortals [immortals who have survived eight great cosmic tribulations] would ultimately take such a Boundless Cosmos [a cosmos of near-infinite scale] with them into the depths of the Boundless Chaos Sea [the infinite, primordial chaos beyond all realms] to attempt their breakthrough into the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm [the supreme realm of the Golden Immortals].

Thoughts flickered rapidly through Eldrin Chen's mind, but he swiftly reined in any trace of arrogance.

The diameter of his current Cosmos was a mere one billion light-years. Compared to a hundred-billion-light-year Boundless Cosmos, it was truly insignificant.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen set aside his wandering thoughts and turned his gaze back to the Abyssal Ruins Grand Universe [the Grand Universe where the Abyssal Ruins are located].

Now that he had Initial Entry [first entered, made an initial foray into] the Late Heaven Immortal Realm [a high stage of immortal cultivation], it was the perfect time to seize the opportunity to open his Heavenly Layers [the stratified celestial realms within a cultivator's internal cosmos]. He should not let his mind wander further.

With this resolve, Eldrin Chen channeled the full power of his Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique [a supreme, innate constitution of unbreakable primordial essence]. With a snap of his fingers directed into the Primordial Chaos [the primeval, undifferentiated state before creation], the Void [the fundamental principle of emptiness] trembled violently. Boundless Chaos Qi [the primal energy of chaos] churned and boiled, and with a world-sundering roar, a magnificent Celestial Domain was cleaved open.

"With a snap of the fingers, a single layer of Celestial Domain is opened."

Lyra Jiang [the Immortal Maiden Lyra Jiang] witnessed this scene, and an expression of utter astonishment could not help but appear on her face.

Eldrin Chen [the cultivator Eldrin Chen], however, remained as composed as ever. His current Physical Body [cultivated physical form] was now comparable to a Half-Step Great Luo Physique [a physique half a step into the Great Luo Realm]. This was a qualitative breakthrough, having already surpassed the limits of the Heaven Immortal Realm [the Heaven Immortal cultivation stage] and was far beyond what could be matched when he merely broke through to the Mid Celestial Immortal Realm [the Mid-stage Celestial Immortal Realm].

"Again!"

With a low utterance, Eldrin Chen's eyes blazed with boundless immortal light.

Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, he struck out with a single palm, piercing through the Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation] and cleaving open a second layer of Celestial Domain [a realm or plane of existence within a universe].

Thereafter, he struck once more. A single fist split the vast Void [the empty space between realms], grinding even the Chaos Qi [primordial chaos energy] into nothingness, transforming it into endless streams of Immortal Spirit Qi [immortal spiritual energy] that flowed within the Cosmos [the ordered universe], thereby opening yet another layer of Celestial Domain.

Thus, time flowed on. Only when Eldrin Chen had reached his absolute limit did he discover that within myself's Abyssal Ruins Grand Universe [the Grand Universe of the Abyssal Ruins], eight more layers of Immortal Domain [a domain imbued with immortal energy] had been opened.

"Originally there were twenty-eight layers, and now another Eighth Heaven [Eighth Heaven]... You have actually opened the Thirty-Six Heavens [the legendary Thirty-Six Heavens] of Celestial Domain?"

At this moment, not only was Lyra Jiang utterly astounded, but Verdant Consort [the Verdant Consort], Nyssa Qu [Nyssa Qu], and the others also wore expressions of profound shock.

With their current level of cultivation, they naturally knew the prerequisite conditions for breaking through to the Great Luo Realm [the Great Luo cultivation stage].

Among the various conditions, there is one crucially important requirement: it necessitates at least Thirty-Six Heavenly Domains.

According to records within the Immortal Domain [a realm of higher existence for cultivators] regarding breakthroughs, after an Ancient Immortal Great Power shatters the Ninefold Heavenly Pass, when attempting to break through to Great Luo [the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm], one must elevate their Cosmos [inner world or universe] into an Immortal Domain. This elevation is then used to condense the 'Primordial Indestructible Spirit Light' [a fundamental, indestructible spiritual radiance].

However, condensing the Primordial Indestructible Spirit Light places certain demands on the Immortal Domain, with the most critical point being the necessity to open up Thirty-Six Heavenly Domains.

This is because a single Great Dao [a supreme principle or law of cultivation] is formed by the convergence of thirty-six Innate Dao Patterns [fundamental patterns of the Dao present from creation]. Similarly, within an 'Innate Spiritual Treasure' [a treasure born from primordial chaos], thirty-six Innate Dao Patterns intertwine. Naturally, the Ascending to Immortality [the process of becoming an immortal] of the Innate Spiritual Light [primordial spiritual radiance] follows this same principle.

It is said that each Celestial Domain [a celestial realm] within an Immortal Domain contains an Innate Primordial Essence [essence born from the primordial chaos] Dao Patterns. This Dao Patterns is the key to condensing the Primordial Indestructible Spirit Light.

When a Cosmos ascends to become an Immortal Domain, besides the manifestation of vast amounts of Innate Qi [primordial energy], one to three 'Opportunity of the Great Dao' [a fleeting chance bestowed by the Great Dao itself] will generally appear, depending on the strength of the Great Luo Golden Immortal candidate's Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and solid foundation of their cultivation].

To condense the Primordial Indestructible Spirit Light, this Opportunity of the Great Dao is the most crucial element.

At that moment, if one seizes the opportunity and intertwines this 'Opportunity of the Great Dao' with the Innate Qi of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Domains, it becomes possible to gestate the Primordial Indestructible Spirit Light.

However, if one fails to open the Thirty-Six Heavenly Domains, then even with the Opportunity of the Great Dao, it is impossible to condense the Primordial Indestructible Spirit Light.

Without that Primordial Indestructible Spirit Light, one cannot take the final step. At that point, even if one succeeds in elevating their realm to an Immortal Domain, all efforts will ultimately come to naught, unable to withstand the profound and unpredictable Great Luo Tribulation [the heavenly tribulation for the Great Luo realm].

"I have already opened the Thirty-Six Heavens [the foundational celestial realms within a cultivator's inner cosmos]."

"Even if I open no new Celestial Domain [a sovereign realm within a cultivator's inner world] hereafter, by the time I break through to Great Luo [the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, a pinnacle of cultivation], I will still obtain at least one strand of Primordial Indestructible Spirit Light [a fundamental, indestructible spiritual radiance that forms the basis of reality]."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a glint of pride shining in his eyes.

Regardless, his feat of consecutively opening the Eighth Heaven [the eighth layer of the celestial heavens within one's inner cosmos] this time could already be termed a Myth [a legendary, near-impossible feat].

This was because the vast majority of Heavenly Immortal Paragon [Paragons of the Heavenly Immortal realm] could only open one or two additional celestial layers when breaking through to the Late Heaven Immortal Realm [the Late Stage of the Heavenly Immortal realm]. Even for those of the forbidden Imperial Son Rank [the rank of an Imperial Scion, denoting supreme talent], opening four layers was considered a miracle.

At the very least, he had never heard of anyone opening the Eight-Layered Heaven and Earth [a complete set of eight celestial and earthly layers within one's inner world] during their breakthrough to the Late Heaven Immortal Realm.

"By opening the Eighth Heaven, the diameter of my Cosmos [the inner universe or world cultivated within a practitioner] has increased significantly once more."

"A diameter of one point two billion light-years, while still not comparable to a Second Calamity Ancient Immortal [an Ancient Immortal who has survived two Heavenly Tribulations], ranks among the pinnacle of First Calamity Ancient Immortals [Ancient Immortals who have survived one Heavenly Tribulation]."

Eldrin Chen mused inwardly, then began planting eight saplings of the Taiyi Ancient Tree [an ancient, primordial tree of immense spiritual power] within the newly opened Heavenly Layers [the stratified celestial realms of an inner cosmos].

With the aid of the Primordial Qi Vase of Heaven and Earth [a mystical vase capable of nurturing and condensing primordial energy], advancing the Primordial Ancient Trees [trees that have existed since the dawn of creation] was not an overly difficult task. Eldrin Chen merely expended a vast quantity of Innate Spiritual Water [water imbued with innate spiritual essence] and fused in several strands of Innate Qi [the fundamental, innate energy of creation], causing the eight Taiyi Ancient Tree saplings to transform into High-Grade Innate Ancient Trees [ancient trees of the highest innate grade].

These eight Ancient Tree [ancient, spiritually potent trees] each possess unique and wondrous properties, yet all contain distinct powers. From now on, the power of Eldrin Chen's Earth Immortal World [the inner world cultivated by an Earth Immortal] has also seen significant advancement.

After everything settled, Eldrin Chen sensed the power within himself, then said to Lyra Jiang with a smile, "With this breakthrough, my strength has progressed once more."

"I dare not claim to rival a First Calamity Ancient Immortal [an Ancient Immortal who has survived their first Heavenly Tribulation], but I would have no fear facing a joint assault from six or seven ordinary Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [cultivators at the peak of the Celestial Immortal stage]."

Upon hearing this, everyone present revealed smiles.

To be capable of single-handedly opposing several Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm working in concert—this level of combat power likely equates to more than half an Ancient Immortals [a being who has transcended mortality and attained immense age and power].

The sole regret was that after breaking through to the Late Heaven Immortal Realm [the late stage of the Heaven Immortal cultivation realm], Eldrin Chen's Cosmos [his personal inner cosmos or world] expanded severalfold. Consequently, his future cultivation speed would also decrease considerably.

Previously, it took him roughly eight hundred thousand years of accumulated cultivation to advance one layer. Now, it seemed it would require at least one million eight hundred thousand years to break through a single layer.

This was because the rate at which these High-Grade Innate Ancient Tree [ancient trees of high innate quality] converted Chaos Qi [the primordial, formless energy from which all things are born] had become slightly insufficient for Eldrin Chen, now in the Late Heaven Immortal Realm.

Furthermore, the bottleneck for promoting them to Supreme Grade Innate Ancient Tree [the supreme grade of innate ancient trees] was immense. Unless Eldrin Chen was willing to expend Innate Primordial Violet Qi [a supreme-grade innate spiritual energy of creation], or elevate the Primordial Qi Vase of Heaven and Earth [a magical treasure for gathering and refining primordial energy] to an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual treasure born from the innate laws of the cosmos], he might not succeed in promoting even one tree after waiting through ten Calamity Tribulation [cosmic cycles of heavenly tribulation].

"Now, there are approximately four million years remaining until the next Calamity Tribulation."

"This span of time is sufficient for me to cultivate to the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal cultivation path]. While it is a tight fit, it should be just enough."