Chapter 1751 : The Path of Self-Sacrifice

Only a rare few could cultivate a Flawless Immortal foundation, and even they had to pay an astonishingly steep price.

Such a monumental cost meant that achieving it was virtually impossible without the backing of an Immortal. It was far more practical to cultivate a Creation Spiritual Root instead, making this method unsuitable for widespread adoption.

The only true path that could elevate a mortal to a state rivaling an Immortal, possessed greater latent potential, offered broad applicability, and did not demand excessively harsh resources was the 'Sacrificial Self' Path pioneered by Eldrin Chen.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen's focus returned to the Seventh Volume of Martial Path.

The Seventh Realm of Martial Path had already forged a bridge to immortality for mortals, constituting a genuine Path to Heaven. Yet, a significant gap remained between it and the World-Opening achieved by the Primordial Genesis Path Ancestor, which elevated one to the Universe Immortal Domain Art.

If one day, Eldrin Chen could complete the eighth realm, and even the ninth, or perhaps break through to a tenth realm Great Encompassing method, this art would transform into a true, peerless Great Path, rivaling the Primordial Genesis Path Ancestor's own World-Opening Path.

No, it might even surpass the World-Opening Path in its immeasurable Merit [the metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds], for this path allowed mortals to tread the road to immortality, its Merit likely more staggering than that of World-Opening itself.

Containing these thoughts, Eldrin Chen withdrew his focus and stored away the scriptures of the Martial Path.

Having observed everything, Exquisite Jiang beside him took the sutras Eldrin Chen had created, her voice filled with awe as she asked.

"This Martial Path method of yours is so profoundly ingenious. Once disseminated, it is certain to garner immeasurable Merit." The story continues at audio—novel.com.

"But what do you plan to do next?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen fell into a brief, contemplative silence, understanding the implication behind Exquisite Jiang's words. A trace of solemnity inevitably surfaced in his gaze.

Such a profound and marvelous cultivation art held limitless potential, yet Eldrin Chen could not, for the time being, disseminate it widely.

His current strength was insufficient. To recklessly propagate this unprecedented path of cultivation would likely invite calamity rather than fortune.

After all, among the powers of the Demonic and Divine Clans within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, there were surely those who would not wish to see the Human Race produce another Path Ancestor [a supreme being who has mastered a fundamental cosmic principle].

Seeing his expression, Exquisite Jiang spoke up. "Why not begin with a secret, experimental promotion in just a few places, such as the Returning Abyss Universe? Once you one day break through to the Great Encompassing Realm [the legendary realm beyond the Immortal Emperor], then it will not be too late to spread it throughout the Myriad Heavens."

"That would be wise."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. "This period can also be used to continuously refine and perfect this Martial Path Cultivation Art."

Hearing this, Exquisite Jiang also gave a nod of approval.

While powerful beyond measure, Eldrin Chen's new method was also clearly riddled with many flaws and imperfections.

For instance, the process of refining essence into energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things] in the early stages is excessively painful. The formation patterns and methods for forging the Path Embryo [the nascent seed of one's cultivation path] could also be optimized. Furthermore, the final success rate of the Sacrificial Self Path [a cultivation art that involves sacrificing parts of oneself for power] is less than one in ten thousand.

To thoroughly perfect this method, it would be necessary to create special elixirs [spiritual pills used for cultivation] for each cultivation realm, exclusive secret techniques involving formation patterns, and even concoctions and methods to increase the chances of a successful breakthrough.

In truth, in the most ancient of times, cultivation of the Immortal Path [the traditional path to immortality] was also a venture of vanishingly slim odds. Among billions upon billions of cultivators, not one might achieve immortality.

It was only through the relentless efforts of generations of sages and pioneers, who devised the Foundation Establishment Pill [a pill that aids in solidifying one's cultivation foundation], the Golden Core Formation Pill [a pill that assists in forming the Golden Core], the Nascent Soul Formation Pill, and other such secret methods and elixirs, that the glorious and prosperous era we see today was ultimately achieved.

Eldrin Chen believed that as long as he continued to refine and optimize this method, this Martial Path [a path focusing on physical and martial prowess] would ultimately become a Path to Heaven [a supreme cultivation path] capable of rivaling the Immortal Path.

Of course, the foundational art itself had been roughly drafted. The remaining flaws could not be discerned from parchment alone. It required actual cultivation of the method, allowing him to observe its deficiencies firsthand and, based on the various problems encountered during practice, devise solutions for them.

Having reached this conclusion, Eldrin Chen began to speak: "Then let us start with the Returning Abyss Universe. Once someone successfully cultivates to the Sacrificial Self Realm [the realm of self-sacrifice within this art], we can then promote it within your Universe."

Upon hearing this, Exquisite Jiang nodded and said, "There is no need to rush other places. Safety must remain our paramount concern."

Speaking to this point, Exquisite Jiang looked at Eldrin Chen and continued, "This Sacrificial Self Path of yours, with its Ten Great Divine Treasuries [ten magnificent spiritual repositories within the body] of profound and peerless mystery, if you and I can master it, it will undoubtedly grant us a tremendous boost in combat prowess."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. Within the Martial Path method he had created—encompassing Body Tempering, Vital Essence Refinement [refining one's vital life force], Foundation of the Path [laying the foundation for one's cultivation path], Divine Treasury [opening the spiritual repositories], Path Embryo, Indestructibility [achieving an unbreakable body and spirit], and the Seven Realms of Sacrificial Self—each realm possessed astonishing and unique characteristics.

However, among these, the one with the greatest potential and the most significant use for Eldrin Chen was precisely this realm of the Divine Treasury [a legendary cultivation stage that unlocks the body's ultimate potential].

Once these Ten Great Divine Treasuries [the ten supreme internal repositories of power within a cultivator's body] are opened, they can stimulate a person's latent potential to its absolute limit, granting them combat prowess unrivaled within their cultivation realm.

If Eldrin Chen could also cultivate and master the Ten Great Divine Treasuries, it would mean merging the core essences of the Immortal Path [the orthodox path of spiritual ascension] and the Sacrificial Self Path [a path of immense power gained through self-sacrifice and refinement], allowing him to wield the two most formidable methodologies.

At that point, Eldrin Chen would undoubtedly transcend all other immortals, becoming a peerless prodigy at least on par with the Divine Sovereign and the Heavenly Emperor [titles for supreme cultivators of legendary eras] of his time.

However, Eldrin Chen treads the Immortal Path. Rashly practicing an incomplete Martial Path [a path focused on physical and combat prowess] method risked damaging his foundational cultivation, a regret he might carry forever.

Furthermore, the higher a cultivator's realm, the more difficult it becomes to open the Ten Great Divine Treasuries. Official source: audio~novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Given Eldrin Chen's current level of cultivation, the difficulty of opening the Ten Great Divine Treasuries would likely be even greater than the challenge of breaking through to Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm].

Considering this, Eldrin Chen shook his head and said, "With a foundation at the Immaculate Celestial Immortal [a pure and flawless celestial immortal realm] level, the chance of successfully opening the Ten Great Divine Treasuries is not high."

Upon hearing this, Exquisite Jiang frowned slightly between her brows and asked, "Then what do you plan to do?"

"I will separate a wisp of my soul essence to cultivate this Sacrificial Self Path."

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, "Splitting off a fragment of my soul to cultivate the Sacrificial Self Path anew allows me to personally experience the cultivation of the Seven Realms of Martial Path."

"This not only aids in perfecting the Sacrificial Self Art, but also allows for the continuous comprehension of the power of the Ten Great Divine Treasuries. If one day I can cultivate the Sacrificial Self Path to its ultimate limit, perhaps I will be able to create a method that merges the Immortal and Martial Paths."

"Though the three thousand Great Path differ in their nature, they ultimately converge towards the same destination."

"I believe that one day, the methods of the Sacrificial Self and the Immortal Path will fuse into one."

"Perhaps that day will be when I prove my Chaos [the primordial state of undifferentiated existence]!"

"..."

With this aspiration in his heart, Eldrin Chen transmitted the teachings of the Sacrificial Self Path within Returning Abyss Heaven.

Almost simultaneously, Eldrin Chen also sent down a soul fragment to be reincarnated into a mortal body within Returning Abyss Heaven.

Given Eldrin Chen's current level of attainment, even a reincarnation into a mortal vessel would bestow astonishing innate talent, naturally possessing a top-tier Spiritual Root [the foundation that determines one's aptitude for absorbing spiritual energy] and a Path Body [a special physique aligned with a particular cultivation path].

However, to cultivate the Sacrificial Self Path, Eldrin Chen deliberately stripped away all such advantages, choosing to be reincarnated as a mortal completely devoid of a Spiritual Root.

A mortal vessel, its physical body truly frail and weak, required special attention from Eldrin Chen. After setting aside ample reserves of tiger and wolf flesh and blood, this split soul embarked upon the path of cultivation.

The early stages of Body Forging cultivation, in essence, are a process of fortifying the physical body's Vitality [the foundational life force and stamina] and honing the growth of spiritual power. This presented no significant difficulties.

The sole issue was the abysmal aptitude of the mortal physique; the rate at which it could refine flesh and blood was agonizingly slow. It seemed a century would be insufficient to complete Body Forging and achieve the Martial Path True Body [a perfected physical form forged through martial arts cultivation].

To remedy this, Eldrin Chen gathered vast quantities of grains, the essence of flesh and blood, and potent medicinal herbs. From these, he devised several cultivation elixirs: the Refined Essence Pill [a pill that purifies and concentrates vital essence], the Vitality Pill [a pill that directly bolsters life force], the Hundred Herbs Elixir [a complex elixir brewed from numerous rare herbs], and others.

These elixirs dramatically accelerated the pace of Martial Path cultivation, compressing a century's worth of training into a mere thirty years.

Still unsatisfied, Eldrin Chen proceeded to create a series of wondrous techniques: the Skin Tempering Art [an art for hardening the skin like iron], the Bone Strengthening Art [an art for reinforcing the bones to withstand immense force], the Blood Renewal Art [an art for purifying and revitalizing the blood], the Sinew Tempering Art [an art for tempering tendons and ligaments], the Organ Refining Art [an art for fortifying the internal organs], and many more.

Nourished by an unending supply of elixirs and empowered by these profound arts, he defiantly forged the Martial Path True Body within twenty years.

"A strength of eighty thousand Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms]?" For more chapters, visit audio-novel dot com for the complete novel.