Chapter 1856 : The Unseen Daoist and the Kalpa's Approach

"I went to the Great Cold Immortal Domain to cultivate for a time, which delayed me slightly."

Eldrin Chen calculated with his fingers and found that now, only one million one hundred thousand years remained until the Kalpa Tribulation, and the day of his ten million year grand longevity celebration was also not far off.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen could not help but inquire: "The longevity celebration approaches. Have our children returned?"

Lyra Jiang smiled slightly, then spoke: "Qingfeng, Wen Yuan, Xianqing, and Xianchang are currently overseeing the preparations. Xianzhu will also return in time."

"However, three million years ago, Xander journeyed to the Primordial Immortal Domain and has not yet returned. Xiannian has also not come back."

Speaking of Xiannian Chen, Lyra Jiang could not help but reveal a trace of bitterness.

Back then, while Xiannian Chen was traveling through the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, he was taken away by a Nameless Old Daoist. Now, over nine million years had passed, yet Xiannian remained utterly without news. This filled Lyra Jiang's heart with constant, immense worry.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but sigh softly.

Over these years, he had repeatedly attempted to divine Xiannian Chen's whereabouts, but each time his divination was obscured by an intangible force.

Even with Eldrin Chen's current level of cultivation, he was still unable to perceive the depth of that old Daoist's power from back then. This made him understand all the more the terrifying nature of that old man.

Reflecting on this, Eldrin Chen could not help but sigh, "It seems now that the old Daoist from back then must have been at least a figure of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of immortal cultivation] level."

"For a being of such stature, there would have been no need to scheme against us."

Hearing this, Lyra Jiang's eyes also dimmed slightly. She took Eldrin Chen's hand and said, "In this coming Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cycle of cosmic destruction and renewal], if you can break through to Grand Luo Golden Immortal, you must find out where he truly went."

"Yes, I will."

Eldrin Chen nodded and drew Lyra Jiang into his embrace.

In the time that followed, Eldrin Chen did not venture elsewhere. He divided his time between awaiting the commencement of the banquet and secluding himself to cultivate his divine abilities.

This time, the divine ability Eldrin Chen focused on was the Primordial Unity Qi Divine Ability [a supreme technique born from the fusion of the five primordial energies].

This Primordial Unity Qi Divine Ability is formed from the unification of the Primordial Five Qi [the five fundamental energies of creation], which are respectively the Pure Yang Qi [the energy of unblemished celestial light], the Profound Nether Qi [the energy of the deep, silent void], the Life Qi [the animating force of all living beings], the Chaos Metal Qi [the energy of primordial, unformed metal], and the Source Earth Qi [the foundational energy of the earth itself].

Originally, each of these Primordial Five Qi techniques was merely at the Mysterious-Grade Divine Ability [a high-tier classification for divine arts] level. Later, through Eldrin Chen's continuous refinement, they had already ascended to the Half-Step Patriarch-Grade.

Now, Eldrin Chen had advanced even further, elevating each individual divine ability to the full Patriarch-Grade.

And when the Five Qi [the five fundamental energies of creation] merge into one, transforming into Primordial Chaos Qi [the primordial energy of chaos from which all things are born], although it has not yet ascended to the ranks of Supreme-Grade Chaos [the primordial void from which the cosmos was born] Divine Abilities, it has already taken half a step into that realm.

Now, as Eldrin Chen cultivates the Primordial Chaos Qi, he must first refine the five Dao Sources [the foundational principles of creation] one by one, fully mastering all five Patriarch-Grade Divine Ability [a supreme-level mystical technique].

At this moment, with Eldrin Chen's continuous cultivation, he mastered the Pure Yang Qi [the purest energy of the sun and active principle] in a mere few thousand years. Thereafter, he proceeded step by step to cultivate the Profound Nether Qi [the deep, cold energy of the underworld], the Life Qi [the vital energy of growth and creation], and the Chaos Metal Qi [the metallic energy born from primordial chaos].

By the time he cultivated the final type of Qi, the Source Earth Qi [the foundational energy of the earth and stability], he discovered that thirty thousand years had already passed.

"Boom—"

As the final strand of Primordial Qi was mastered, Eldrin Chen felt the Primordial Five Qi [the five primordial energies] within his body spinning and fusing incessantly, ultimately coalescing into a single strand of supremely powerful, sacred Primordial Chaos Qi.

This power was incomparably mighty; each wisp, each thread, was sufficient to clash against the Chaos itself and effortlessly suppress a mighty figure at the Seven Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an Ancient Immortal who has survived seven Heavenly Tribulations] realm.

"A Half-Step Supreme-Grade Divine Ability."

"The quality of this ability should be comparable to that possessed by an Chaos Emperor Lord, should it not?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, sensing the power of the Primordial Chaos Qi. A glimmer of light inevitably surfaced within his gaze.

In this moment, Eldrin Chen understood that his Primordial Chaos Qi should perhaps be renamed as Primordial Chaos Qi [a divine ability born from the power of the primordial chaos].

For this was a true Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation] divine ability, containing a wisp of the boundless Chaos's might. Once unleashed, it was sufficient to suppress and slay even the most arrogant of foes.

Such a divine ability had already reached the absolute pinnacle of the Eleventh Limit [the eleventh and penultimate tier of divine ability power] divine ability heavenly gate. It was merely A Step Away [a metaphorical distance, meaning very close] from the Twelfth Limit True Spirit Divine Ability [a divine ability of the twelfth and ultimate tier, also known as a Dao Progenitor-level ability].

And the Twelfth Limit True Spirit Divine Ability, also known as a Dao Progenitor-level divine ability, is referred to as a peerless divine ability or a Chaos-level divine ability.

Generally speaking, those are the exclusive domain of Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage [the supreme realm of cultivation, equivalent to a Dao Progenitor] and Divine Emperor Celestial Sovereigns. Within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad realms of the immortal world], aside from Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage, those who can cultivate such an ability to its Great Perfection can be counted on the fingers of two hands.

Yet even so, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly. "With the power of Primordial Chaos Qi, it is still only an Eleventh Limit divine ability."

"It is hard to believe. How, then, can one possibly cultivate a Twelfth Limit True Spirit Divine Ability to success?"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, finding himself still without the slightest clue as to whether he could ever cultivate a Twelfth Limit divine ability.

Since he could not figure it out, he decided to set the thought aside for now. A moment later, Eldrin Chen gathered his wandering thoughts back to the present.

He slowly withdrew the Primordial Chaos Qi back within himself. Then, sensing the spiritual power circulating within his body, a faint smile finally touched his lips.

Following this breakthrough, the passive secret art of the Primordial Chaos Qi [the foundational energy of primordial chaos] also underwent a qualitative transformation.

The passive secret art attached to the Primordial Chaos Qi is named the Chaos Five Elements Refinement Art [a technique that refines spiritual energy using the chaotic essence of the five elements]. It continuously tempers Eldrin Chen's magical power day and night, elevating its purity and density.

Now, with the advancement of the Primordial Chaos Qi, Eldrin Chen's magical power finally progressed a step further, propelling him firmly into the realm of the Eleventh Limit [the eleventh and penultimate stage of foundational perfection before the final heavenly barrier]. The final Twelfth Limit [the ultimate stage of foundational perfection] Heavenly Pass was now within sight.

At this point, Eldrin Chen's cultivation base was not only completely solidified within the Ancient Immortal Realm, but all four of his foundational pillars—magical power, Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], physical body, and divine abilities—had been cultivated to the Eleventh Limit.

These four Eleventh Limit foundations brought about a qualitative transformation in Eldrin Chen's combat prowess.

This transformation granted him the battle strength of an Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an Ancient Immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations], even without relying on the Soaring Immortal Zither.

If he were to wield the Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the world's natural laws, possessing immense power] Soaring Immortal Zither, Eldrin Chen was confident his combat power would surpass that of a typical Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal by a slight margin.

And this was without designating the Soaring Immortal Zither as his Dao-Proving Supreme Treasure. If he chose it to break through the Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Pass [a cultivation barrier overcome by fusing with a supreme treasure], his battle strength would surge yet another level higher.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen felt a wave of profound joy wash over him.

"It is time to emerge from seclusion."

Subsequently, Eldrin Chen did not continue his secluded cultivation. Although he still had the Five Elements Great Luo Thunder Marrow [a supreme treasure marrow that refines the body and spirit with the power of the five elements and heavenly thunder] left to refine, the day of his longevity celebration was now approaching, and he could no longer remain in seclusion.

With this in mind, Eldrin Chen emerged from his retreat and arrived outside the Abyssal Grotto-Heaven [a blessed realm of profound spiritual energy and natural wonders].

At this moment, the Chen Immortal Clan had been preparing the longevity banquet for many years. Cedric Chen, seeing Eldrin Chen emerge, hurriedly sought him out and said with some concern, "The longevity banquet will commence a thousand years from now. I have already notified all the allied Grotto-Heaven [blessed realms] within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast realm of immortal cultivation]."

"However, by then, I fear some individuals may arrive uninvited."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered slightly. He understood that with the Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly calamity that reshapes eras] approaching, coupled with the Opportunity [a rare chance for advancement or rebirth] of rebirth after a hundred tribulations, the Vast Azure Immortal Domain had become a place where dragons and fish swam together—a mix of the mighty and the mediocre. It was likely many would seek to test his strength under this pretext.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen said with a faint smile, "It matters not. Times have changed. If those people wish to come and test us, then let them."

"It will be a good opportunity to discern who is friend and who is foe, to settle all accounts together when the Kalpa Tribulation arrives."

Cedric Chen was momentarily taken aback by these words. In recent years, Eldrin Chen had seldom been seen in the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, and with Lyra Jiang and others maintaining strict secrecy, even he did not know Eldrin Chen's true cultivation base and combat prowess.

In his estimation, Eldrin Chen's current cultivation was likely only around the ninth level of Celestial Immortal [a high immortal realm], with combat power at most equivalent to the early stage of an Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has survived for immense ages].

Yet, the demeanor of Eldrin Chen at this moment defied his expectations. Observing Eldrin's aura, profound and unshakable as a deep abyss and a towering peak, and the absolute confidence with which he held command, Cedric Chen felt a tremor stir within his heart.

"Could it be... has he already stepped into the Ancient Immortal Realm [the legendary realm of eternal, primordial beings]?"

Elation surged within Cedric's heart. In his view, an Ancient Immortal Great Power [a cultivator who has ascended to the primordial immortal realm] was nothing less than a pillar holding up the heavens of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain.

In times past, though the Vast Azure Immortal Domain was extraordinarily prosperous, it possessed only five such Ancient Immortal Great Powers. Each of these five was a figure of sovereign stature, any single one capable of holding dominion over the life and death of countless beings across multiple celestial domains.

Even now, with the advent of the great rebirth after a hundred calamities and the return of numerous Ancient Immortal [primordial immortals] to the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, the total number of all such beings combined scarcely exceeded a few dozen.

If Eldrin Chen could truly break through to become an Ancient Immortal, then given his foundational strength that allowed him to challenge those above his realm, he would undoubtedly rank among the top ten most powerful figures in the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain.

With this thought, Cedric could not contain the wild joy in his heart. "With your word," he said, "my mind is at ease."

"Mm."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then rose to his feet. "The longevity banquet is still a millennium away," he stated. "I shall take this opportunity to attend to several matters."

With those words, Eldrin strode forth from the Abyssal Grotto-Heaven [a celestial paradise hidden within a profound abyss] and arrived at a forbidden land where the boundaries of Yin and Yang intersected, a place encircled by a host of cawing crows.

This forbidden land, teeming with countless shadow crows and fire crows, is none other than the renowned Myriad Crows Forbidden Land within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain.

"The Myriad Crows Forbidden Land," he murmured.

After so many years, returning once more to the heart of the Myriad Crows Forbidden Land, Eldrin Chen was filled with a profound sense of nostalgia.

He remembered clearly the time, not long after his breakthrough to the Earth Immortal realm, when he had been compelled to venture twice into the perilous Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea to slay demonic fiends, all to accumulate the light of Merit [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds].

And for both of those journeys into the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea, Eldrin Chen had used this very Myriad Crows Forbidden Land as his clandestine passage.

It was during those perilous crossings that he had the fortune to meet Zixuan the Daoist, a meeting that sowed the seeds for their future adventures together within the lesser cosmos.

Furthermore, on his third visit to this Myriad Crows Forbidden Land, he had cleverly used its treacherous terrain to entrap and eliminate the master of the Flowing Fire Star Palace, thereby resolving a truly formidable threat.

Viewed from the pinnacle of his current cultivation, those past adversaries might seem insignificant, yet in the context of that time, the situations had been fraught with genuine peril.

"This Myriad Crows Forbidden Land has, in its own way, been a land of fortune for me."

Recalling those bygone days, a faint, knowing smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips.

He spoke no further, merely sweeping his sleeve as he advanced into the depths of the Myriad Crows Forbidden Land.

Within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, the Myriad Crows Forbidden Land was a place of dread that turned men pale at its mere mention. Since ancient times, several Ancient Immortal [powerful beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation] had met their end within its confines.

Yet, given Eldrin Chen's current level of power, he harbored not the slightest fear.

As he strode into the heart of the Myriad Crows Forbidden Land, the endless swarms of shadow-crows and fire-crows dared not assail him. Instead, they trembled in abject terror.

Such was the awe-inspiring majesty of an Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [a supreme cultivator who has survived eight heavenly tribulations]. Though Eldrin Chen had not yet formally ascended to that realm, his combat prowess was its equal. A mere forbidden land born from a shattered Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos of heaven and earth] held no power to threaten him.

"*Hummmm—*"

With each of Eldrin Chen's steps, the forbidden land's spatial-stagnating Dao [the fundamental laws of reality] proved utterly ineffective.

The Myriad Crows Forbidden Land trembled violently, unleashing endless patterns of Dao-law to bar Eldrin Chen's advance. Yet, in the end, it could only watch helplessly as he arrived at its very core.

At the heart of the Myriad Crows Forbidden Land lay an ancient pot, its surface riddled with cracks, currently suppressed by the foundational Dao-laws of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain.

"The Nether Crow Pot [a potent magical vessel associated with shadow and avian spirits]," he identified.

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, casually drawing the shattered Nether Crow Pot into his grasp.

The Nether Crow Pot struggled violently, yet it was effortlessly suppressed by Eldrin Chen using the Chaos Mist [a primordial, formless energy from the dawn of creation], unable to move even a fraction.

Having subdued the Innate Nether Crow Pot, Eldrin Chen then reached his hand deep into the heart of the Fire Crow Forbidden Ground, retrieving a crimson pot riddled with cracks.

"The Innate Fire Crow Pot [a primordial treasure born of heaven and earth, housing the essence of fire crows]," he uttered.

Gazing at the two precious pots in his hands, Eldrin Chen performed a brief divination with his fingers. Instantly, the origin of these artifacts became clear to him.

It turned out this treasure was an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme artifact born from the primal forces of the cosmos, not crafted by mortal or immortal hands] that belonged to an Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [a cultivator who has survived eight heavenly tribulations, a being of immense age and power] from an external realm during the twilight of the Primordial Era.

At that time, the Primordial Immortal Domain was embroiled in a cataclysmic war against an ancient, unknowable external realm from the Depths of Chaos. That foreign domain seemed even more formidable than the Primordial Immortal Domain, unleashing inconceivably powerful enemies who tore through the Chaos [the formless void preceding ordered reality] to launch their assault.

Vast Azure Great God, whose cultivation had reached the seventh layer of Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of immortal cultivation, representing supreme mastery over the Dao], was one of the great deities of the Primordial Divine Court. He clashed with these invaders from beyond, successively slaying several Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

The master of the Myriad Crows Pot [the combined form of the Nether Crow and Fire Crow Pots, a vessel commanding legions of spirit crows] was merely an obscure Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal. He had joined his Grand Luo Golden Immortal senior in besieging Vast Azure Great God.

Yet, Vast Azure Great God casually crushed him with a mere gesture. Even his Innate Spiritual Treasure was shattered into fragments, left within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain to await an opportunity for repair over the eons.

Yet the external foe in that battle was overwhelmingly powerful. Even the Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor and the Purple Tenuity Divine Emperor were grievously wounded and fell into slumber. How could the Vast Azure Great God [a mighty deity of the primordial era] withstand such an onslaught?

He slew Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm] after Grand Luo Golden Immortal, drawing the attention of an indescribably powerful entity from the opposing foreign domain.

It was an unfathomable, epoch-defying powerhouse. From across the boundless Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation], It struck with a single sword blow. The cataclysmic sword energy cleaved open a chasm in the Chaos, slaying the Vast Azure Great God amidst the endless Chaos.

Even more terrifying, this sword strike descended along the River of Time and Space [the metaphysical flow of time and space], killing the Vast Azure Great God not once, but again and again.

"Was it a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a sovereign ruler of primordial chaos], or perhaps a being on the level of the Chaos Celestial Emperor [the supreme emperor of chaos] who made this move?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a flicker of awe and trepidation crossing his features.

One as mighty as the Vast Azure Great God, who single-handedly suppressed and slew several Grand Luo Golden Immortal, was still cut down by a single sword from across the infinite Chaos abyss. It was a stark reminder that beyond every mountain lies a higher peak, beyond every sky a vaster heaven.

Eldrin Chen dared not dwell on such thoughts. He swiftly reined in his mind and turned his gaze to the Yin-Yang Myriad Crows Pot [a legendary magical cauldron] in his hand, a wave of elation washing over him.

"The damage was severe, but fortunately, it is nearly restored."

It turned out that during that ancient battle, the Yin-Yang Myriad Crows Pot had suffered catastrophic damage. The Vast Azure Great God had placed it at the confluence of Yin and Yang [the junction of opposing cosmic forces] to facilitate its recovery.

Now, after an unknowable span of Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle in Buddhist cosmology, often billions of years], and having been nurtured by the foundational essence of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, it has managed to recover most of its former state.

Next, if a Great Luo Grade [a supreme tier of cultivation mastery] artificer were to take action and suitable materials were found to integrate into it, there remains a significant possibility of its restoration.

"I possess a portion of Great Luo Rare Treasure Profound Yang Divine Iron," Eldrin Chen murmured to himself. "If I can find a corresponding treasure of profound Yin [the passive, dark, feminine principle in Chinese cosmology] essence, I could attempt its repair."

As this thought crossed his mind, Eldrin Chen moved to store the treasure away.

But at that very moment, the heavens and earth dimmed. An intangible will, vast and ancient, surged toward him.

"This treasure is excessively damaged," the will intoned, its voice echoing through the fabric of reality. "I have nurtured it across countless Kalpa Tribulation, merely to restore it to its current condition. You may not take it so lightly."