Chapter 1245 : The Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Strategy

"A pity it lacks the crucial method for the breakthrough to Celestial Immortal [the highest tier of immortal existence, transcending the earthly plane]."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself. After a moment, he shook his head and let out a wry chuckle.

An incomplete Innate Dao Scripture [a primordial cultivation manual of heavenly origin] capable of reaching the ninth layer of the Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power and longevity are anchored to the mortal world] realm was, in itself, astonishing beyond measure—enough to stir the heart of even an Earth Immortal Progenitor [a venerable founder who has reached the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm].

Had it been a complete Innate Dao Scripture leading directly to the realm of a Celestial Immortal, he would never have been able to bring it out alive.

To have retrieved this incomplete scripture was perhaps the greatest fortune of her entire life.

"With this scripture as our guide, the path ahead for our cultivation is now illuminated."

With a pleased expression, Eldrin Chen carefully stored the Setting Sun Heavenly Scripture [a profound cultivation art named for the waning sun] and then turned his gaze to the final ancient tome.

This fourth ancient scroll was titled the "Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Strategy". It was not a cultivation art, nor was it a collection of secret techniques. Instead, it detailed a unique and specialized path of cultivation.

According to the scroll's records, the Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Strategy contained the forging methods for twenty-four distinct Divine Artifacts [artifacts of immense power, often wielded by gods or supreme immortals].

These so-called Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Artifacts were twenty-four mighty Divine Artifacts that functioned as a single entity. Together, they could manifest the Twenty-Four Layered Heavenly Realms [a cosmological construct of twenty-four stacked celestial planes], ranking them among the very pinnacle of all Immortal Treasures [magical artifacts used by immortals, superior to ordinary magical treasures].

According to the ancient scrolls, if an Earth Immortal of the ninth level were to successfully cultivate the Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Artifacts, their simultaneous activation could even allow one to contend with a Half-Step Celestial Immortal and vie for supremacy against a Heavenly Immortal Paragon.

However, the Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Strategy is also exceptionally arduous to cultivate. With twenty-four such divine artifacts, for an ordinary Immortal to attempt to wield them all at once would be nothing short of a fool's dream.

Through conventional methods, it is fundamentally impossible to simultaneously refine the Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Artifacts, thus their refinement technique is uniquely esoteric.

For a cultivator to refine these twenty-four heavenly artifacts, they must first forge the embryonic vessels of the Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Artifacts using rare and precious immortal materials.

Next, they must refine each embryonic vessel one by one using the power of their soul essence.

Finally, they must carry the Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Artifacts through a cycle of reincarnation. By leveraging the Primordial Womb Qi [the primordial life-giving energy of creation] from the Stone of Reincarnation, they are nurtured together with the artifacts, merging their auras into one and transforming them into Innate Companion Treasure [a treasure born with and intrinsically linked to its wielder].

Once the embryonic vessels are harmonized with the self, the cultivator must continuously refine the Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Artifacts during their cultivation. The day these vessels finally mature into peerless Immortal Treasure is the day the Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Artifacts are fully mastered.

Although the Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Artifacts are immensely powerful, the resources they consume are equally staggering.

To push them to their ultimate limit and refine them into twenty-four World-Opening Treasure would require a full twenty-four Heaven-Opening Immortal Treasure. The difficulty of this feat is truly monumental.

Not even an Earth Immortal Progenitor, and likely not even a primordial deity of the Half-Step Celestial Immortal realm, could be expected to achieve such a thing.

"This is a supreme path, a Dao [the fundamental principle or path in Chinese philosophy] of immense difficulty. Yet, if one can walk it to its end, they might become peerless within their realm, capable of dominating the cosmos."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a trace of a sigh lingering between his brows.

To be fair, once this grand path is successfully traversed, its power would likely be comparable to Xander Chen's Thirty-Three Oceanic Divine Pearls.

However, the materials required for the Thirty-Three Oceanic Divine Pearls can be nurtured by the Spirit Clam Tribe. With the support of the Immortal Clam Tribe, obtaining these materials, while exceedingly costly, is not an insurmountable task.

But the immortal-grade materials needed for these Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Artifacts are far more arduous to gather in their entirety.

After much contemplation, Eldrin Chen finally spoke: "This path diverges from my own Dao, yet its principles can still serve as a valuable reference."

"The array [a complex formation or magical diagram] principles contained within could offer some ingenious applications for Xander's Thirty-Three Sea-Calming Divine Pearls. Later, have a copy transcribed and delivered to him."

"Understood."

Lyra Jiang gave a slight nod and said, "I will make the arrangements."

With the matter settled thus, Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment and spoke of it no further.

Setting aside the Twenty-Four Heavenly Realms Divine Strategy, Eldrin Chen then turned his gaze to the remaining few immortal treasures. The number of rare treasures he had seized on this venture was not great, yet each one was of astonishingly immense value.

Among the supreme-grade immortal treasures obtained were three items: the Black Dragon True Soul, the Nine Heavens Divine Flame Jade, and the Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold. There was also one portion of Heaven-Opening Immortal Treasure, namely the rare treasure known as the Azure Flame Immortal Gold.

That Azure Flame Immortal Gold was seized by Eldrin Chen as he made his escape. The Nine Heavens Divine Flame Jade and the Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold were acquired by Lyra Jiang and the Verdant Consort respectively.

At that time, numerous other supreme-grade immortal treasures had erupted forth along with the bursting earth veins. However, Eldrin Chen, sensing the impending danger, did not greedily pursue those treasures. Thus, his harvest was somewhat lesser, but it was precisely this restraint that allowed him to escape safely.

Of course, the primary reason for his successful escape was that their cultivation levels were relatively low, failing to draw the attention of the Azure Dragon Lord and the Celestial Fiend Asura.

Those two supreme powerhouses at the Eighth Level Earth Immortal realm focused their efforts on encircling and slaying Ganliu the Daoist. They did not pursue fleeing cultivators at the Half-Step Earth Immortal level, which is how our group managed to preserve their lives.

Returning to the main subject, Eldrin Chen looked upon the three rare treasures, a sense of profound satisfaction welling up within his heart.

Among these three extraordinary treasures, the Azure Flame Immortal Gold was an eighth-tier World Creation Divine Object [a rare material containing the primal power to shape worlds], capable of being used to forge Immortal Treasure [transcendent artifacts of immense power] for the World Creation [the divine ability to create and shape miniature worlds] divine ability. Its value, therefore, needs no further elaboration.

The Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold was a supreme-grade immortal metal. Within it, the embryonic form of the Nirvana Immortal Flame [an immortal flame embodying the principle of rebirth and renewal] rule had taken shape, making it one of the finest immortal materials for forging fire-attribute Immortal Treasure [transcendent artifacts of immense power] immortal swords.

Without the slightest hesitation, Eldrin Chen took it into his hand and declared, "I shall use this to refine the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss."

"Very well."

Both women nodded in agreement, their faces lighting up with smiles.

The Celestial River Ren Water Sword was already a top-grade immortal sword. Once the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss was elevated to the same rank, the power of their dual-sword union could be unleashed once more. At that point, Eldrin Chen's combat prowess would undoubtedly increase.

While he still wouldn't dare claim to rival a Seven Tribulations Half-Step Earth Immortal, he should be able to face a first-layer Earth Immortal who had mastered World Creation without the slightest fear. In fact, before his spiritual energy was exhausted, he might even gain the upper hand.

After taking the Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to the Nine Heavens Divine Flame Jade and the Black Dragon True Soul. The Nine Heavens Divine Flame Jade was a fire-attribute marvel, containing the Power of Rules of the Nine Heavens Divine Flame [a supreme, heaven-scorching divine fire]. It was also a rare treasure suitable for refining a Second Primordial Spirit [a cultivator's secondary spiritual core] or a life-bound Immortal Treasure.

Whether it was Verdant Consort's Crimson Dragon Void-Refining Sword or Lyra Jiang's Six Directions Eight Wastes Cauldron, this material could be used to elevate either of them to the Upper Grade Immortal Rank.

Thus, after much deliberation, Eldrin Chen found himself hesitating over who should receive it.

It was Verdant Consort whose eyes flickered slightly before she spoke up voluntarily, "The Nine Heavens Divine Flame within this item is overwhelmingly fierce, better suited for artifact forging than for tempering an immortal sword. It should be given to Sister Lyra to refine her Six Directions Eight Wastes Cauldron."

"This..."

Eldrin Chen's eyes shifted subtly, his gaze settling on Lyra Jiang.

This time, Lyra Jiang did not decline. She glanced at Eldrin Chen and said, "With my Supreme Yin Immortal Physique [a legendary body constitution of pure Yin energy], I can at most nurture and reflect the essence for a single Supreme Immortal Treasure [a treasure of the highest immortal grade]."

"I will need your assistance to lend me a hand, to help unlock the shackles of the Six Directions Eight Wastes Cauldron [a legendary cauldron treasure] ahead of time."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile and reply, "Agreed."

After handing the Nine Heavens Divine Flame Jade [a divine jade imbued with heavenly flames] to Lyra Jiang, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze towards the Black Dragon True Soul [the purified soul essence of a Black Dragon] and the Azure Flame Immortal Gold [a legendary immortal metal burning with azure fire].

Between these two treasures, refining the Azure Flame Immortal Gold with their current capabilities would require at least ten thousand years of effort. It could only be set aside for the time being, to be dealt with in the future.