Chapter 1861 : The Nine-Aperture Primordial Spirit

After comprehending the profound mysteries of the Nine-Aperture Primordial Spirit [a supreme divine ability that manifests a spirit with nine apertures, each capable of hosting an innate divine power], Eldrin Chen felt a surge of joy within his heart.

He understood clearly that with this Nine-Aperture Primordial Spirit now in his possession, his other divine abilities could be fused to become Innate Divine Abilities [divine powers that are born from within one's own spiritual foundation, possessing immense potential for growth].

With this thought, Eldrin Chen did not hesitate for a moment and immediately began the process of fusing his Innate Divine Abilities.

Now that he possessed the Nine-Aperture Primordial Spirit, fusing Innate Divine Abilities no longer required the same frugality as in the past. However, over the years, Eldrin Chen had cultivated thousands of divine abilities, the vast majority of which were merely World-Opening Divine Abilities [foundational-level divine powers used to establish one's cultivation path] of the orthodox grade.

Therefore, Eldrin Chen needed to deliberate carefully on which divine abilities to select for fusion.

After a moment's contemplation, Eldrin Chen first fused three divine abilities: the Primordial Chaos Qi [the primal, undifferentiated energy of creation], the Five Elements Divine Radiance [a radiant power embodying the five fundamental elements], and the Primordial Chaos Divine Thunder [a thunder of primordial chaos]. The Great Deduction of Yin-Yang and Stars [a supreme divination art that calculates the secrets of Yin, Yang, and the celestial bodies], being a destiny-reading divine ability, was also an unparalleled choice for cultivation as an Innate Divine Abilities.

For the fifth aperture, Eldrin Chen decisively chose the Primordial Chaos Soldier Derivation Art [an art to conjure soldiers from the essence of primordial chaos]. This technique, evolved from the Star Soldier Derivation Art [an art to create soldiers from stellar essence], had long been refined by Eldrin Chen to a level unprecedented in history. Its future potential was immense, fully worthy of becoming a potential-type divine ability.

As for the sixth aperture, after pondering for a while, he chose to integrate the Boundless Cosmos Sword [a sword technique of limitless cosmic reach]. After all, this was a Patriarch-Grade Divine Ability [a divine power of a level mastered by founding patriarchs]. In the future, if he also cultivated the Years Like a Song Blade [a blade technique where years flow like a melody], he could merge them to unleash the potential of a True Spirit Divine Ability [a divine power of the True Spirit realm].

After fusing six Innate Divine Abilities, Eldrin Chen ceased further fusion. He mused to himself, "The seventh aperture shall be reserved for the Years Like a Song Blade. As for the remaining eighth and ninth apertures, they require careful consideration."

Having said this, Eldrin Chen slowly withdrew his focus and settled his mind.

He intended to wait until later, after comprehending the Primordial Beginning Dao Scripture — specifically its Divine Ability Chapter — before creating suitable divine abilities and Dao arts of his own.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spent a moment consolidating his newly formed Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], then turned his gaze towards the location of the discarded Primordial Spirit husk.

At this moment, under the relentless bombardment of the Primordial Chaos Divine Thunder, the old Primordial Spirit husk was already riddled with cracks. Fragments continuously broke away from it, flying into the Primordial Chaos Grinding Mill to be pulverized and refined.

"This discarded husk of my old Primordial Spirit may allow me to advance even further,"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly. His old Primordial Spirit had not yet completely shattered. If it were to be fully ground down and transformed into nourishment for the new Primordial Spirit, the nascent spirit would have significant room for further growth.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen did not hesitate. He immediately intensified the power of the Primordial Chaos Divine Thunder, directing its strikes continuously upon the old Primordial Spirit husk.

With Eldrin Chen exerting his full power, even though the old Primordial Spirit could be described as an Indestructible Primordial Spirit, it finally began to fracture and disintegrate at an accelerated pace under the relentless assault of such a supreme divine ability.

With a thunderous roar, the massive Primordial Spirit husk finally shattered completely, exploding into countless fragments that scattered in all directions.

Eldrin Chen swiftly gathered them all, channeling every piece into the Primordial Chaos Grinding Mill above, where they were crushed and refined into the purest essence of soul origin.

Simultaneously, Eldrin Chen's new Primordial Spirit emanated a wondrous, shimmering light, drawing in and absorbing the supremely pure origin essence from within the Primordial Chaos Grinding Mill.

Throughout this process, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] began to grow ceaselessly, becoming increasingly powerful and vast without him even realizing it.

An unknowable length of time passed. When Eldrin Chen had refined thirty percent of the foundational essence, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] finally underwent a qualitative transformation.

"Hmmmm—"

A resonant hum echoed. Eldrin Chen felt his spiritual platform [the seat of consciousness] become utterly clear and empty. His Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] seemed to transcend the shackles of his physical body and the Mortal Dust Realm, ascending dimensionally through the endless Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] to arrive before a vast and boundless sea of the Great Dao.

Within the eye of this sea, Eldrin Chen discovered a hazy, indistinct light floating upon its surface—an eternal, indelible radiance.

It transcended fate and the Heavenly Dao [the natural order of the cosmos]; even the boundless Great Dao itself could not compare to it.

With but a single glance, Eldrin Chen understood. This was the light of utter indestructibility and immortality. It was born at the dawn of Chaos's [the primordial, formless state before creation] division, a Eternal True Spirit [an indestructible spiritual origin] derived from the evolution of Primordial Chaos [the original state of undifferentiated existence], and the origin of all living beings.

"Indestructible True Spirit."

"So that's it."

At this moment, Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a profound understanding dawning upon him as he grasped the mysteries of the Indestructible True Spirit [an indestructible spiritual origin].

It turns out that the True Spirit [the indestructible spiritual origin of all living beings] is the origin of all sentient life, possessing the characteristic of absolute and eternal indestructibility. Even a Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage [the supreme pinnacle of cultivation, a sage who has comprehended the fundamental Dao] would find it impossible to utterly annihilate one.

All living beings within the Chaos [the primordial, formless state from which all existence emerged] were originally derived from this single Indestructible True Spirit [the uncreated, eternal source of all spiritual essence].

Across the boundless worlds, with the birth of every soul, this Eternal True Spirit [the undying spiritual source] divides off a True Spirit Imprint [a unique spiritual signature or template] to merge with it, thereby nurturing a True Spirit [the spiritual core of a being] that belongs solely to that newly born soul.

Only a spirit that possesses a True Spirit Imprint [a unique spiritual signature] can be called a soul or a divine soul.

However, while the True Spirit [the spiritual core] is indestructible, the soul can still decay. After many mortals, cultivators, and Immortal [a being who has ascended beyond mortality] perish, if their Primordial Spirit [the highest form of a cultivator's spiritual consciousness] is completely ground away and extinguished, it will utterly collapse and disintegrate.

At that moment, the True Spirit [the spiritual core] will return to its state as a True Spirit Imprint [a spiritual template]. Should it reincarnate again, it will no longer be the person of yore, for the divine soul has completely changed; it is no longer the being it once was.

Yet, even if the divine soul is worn away, the True Spirit [the spiritual core] itself can never be destroyed.

For if the day ever came when the Indestructible True Spirit [the eternal spiritual source] were to be extinguished, it would signify that not a single living creature could possibly exist within the Chaos [the primordial void].

"So this is the realm of the Twelfth Limit [the twelfth and ultimate boundary of cultivation] and the True Spirit [the perfected spiritual state]," he murmured, comprehension dawning like a sunrise.

"No wonder Senior Taiyou once said that the state of the True Spirit [the perfected spiritual core] cannot be conveyed through words. When one reaches that stage oneself, the breakthrough will occur as naturally as water finding its course."

At this moment, Eldrin Chen murmured softly, finally comprehending the profound mysteries of the True Spirit realm [the state of achieving an indestructible spiritual foundation].

The so-called Twelfth Limit True Spirit realm [the ultimate stage of bodily refinement] signifies that after transcending a certain limit, one can sense this Eternal True Spirit [the primordial, everlasting spiritual source of all existence] and draw power from this Indestructible True Spirit [the unbreakable spiritual essence], thereby claiming a greater share of its True Spirit Imprint [the fundamental spiritual sigils that grant immortality] for oneself.

By using this True Spirit Imprint to temper one's physical body, the flesh can achieve true indestructibility, becoming impervious to complete annihilation even by a Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage [a supreme being who has comprehended the fundamental Dao and achieved sagehood].

Furthermore, if the True Spirit Imprint is fused with one's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], the Primordial Spirit will also inherit the indestructible nature of the True Spirit, rendering it nearly impossible to be utterly extinguished.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, it is likely that even a Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage could not completely erase a True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a Primordial Spirit forged with True Spirit Imprints], just as they cannot erase the True Spirit itself.

Of course, to condense a single soul-essence, only one True Spirit Imprint is required. However, to cultivate a True Spirit Primordial Spirit, the number of True Spirit sigils needed is staggeringly immense.

At this moment, Eldrin Chen gazed up at the Eternal True Spirit, slowly releasing a breath. "Whether I can break through to the True Spirit Primordial Spirit realm," he declared, "depends on today."

With those words, Eldrin Chen fully activated his Primordial Spirit, beginning to draw upon the power of this Eternal True Spirit.

"Whoosh!"

Instantly, within this eternal void, the Indestructible True Spirit radiated with everlasting light.

Countless True Spirit Imprint [a unique spiritual signature marking a cultivator's connection to the fundamental laws of the cosmos] rained down from the Great Dao Sea [the primordial ocean of all laws and principles that underlies reality]. Billions upon billions of these imprints cascaded into the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of Eldrin Chen, like a Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation] river of Ronan [a name meaning 'little seal' or 'oath'] pouring forth.

"Someone has stirred the Eternal True Spirit [the ultimate, unchanging spiritual essence that is the source of all True Spirit Imprints]," a voice echoed through the void.

In that very moment, across the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad realms and worlds of cultivation], countless supreme existences opened their eyes.

Within the Primordial Divine Court [the supreme celestial court governing the primordial order], inside a divine palace, a gaze capable of erasing all heavens slowly opened.

It was an indescribable figure. Merely seated within the great hall, three thousand Great Daos [the fundamental principles of existence] revolved around him. An eternal, unextinguishable light of the Primordial Beginning [the first light of creation] shone forth, illuminating the boundless Chaos and all the ancient realms.

"This aura..."

Just then, a voice sounded.

Not far from Him, a peerlessly graceful Divine Emperor [a supreme ruler among deities] clad in violet robes also opened his eyes, speaking with a tone of astonishment.

"It seems to be a True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a legendary state where a cultivator's spiritual core achieves perfect unity with the Eternal True Spirit]. It appears the Three Thousand Immortal Domains has produced another remarkable junior."

"Brother Taichu [Primordial Beginning], if my memory serves, the last time such a figure emerged was that Violet Immortal Lord [a title for a supreme immortal], was it not?"

At the center of the grand hall, Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor [the supreme deity representing the origin of all things] wore an expression of utter calm as he spoke plainly, "A Twelve Limits Foundation [a legendary, near-perfect foundational cultivation stage] cultivator is a rarity not seen in billions of years. Yet now, within a mere twenty million years, two have emerged in succession."

"A moment ago, I performed a divination and found the fortunes of Chaos [the primordial, formless state from which all creation emerged] to be fluctuating wildly, rising and falling without pattern."

Speaking to this point, Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor turned his gaze towards the violet-robed Divine Emperor and said, "Zǐwēi [Purple Tenuity], it seems they are preparing to make a resurgence."

Upon hearing this, a glint of icy light flashed within the eyes of Purple Tenuity Divine Emperor [the Divine Emperor governing the celestial realm of the North Star].

A moment later, he sneered coldly, "After the great battle of that era, the Solar Divine Emperor [the Divine Emperor embodying the supreme Yang principle of the sun] seized the opportunity to wrest away the authority over the Starry Great Dao [the cosmic principle governing the stars and celestial fate]. Not only did this cause our severe injuries and forced slumber, but it also led to our comrade, Grand Yin [the supreme Yin principle, counterpart to Grand Yang], failing to fully grasp his destined Dao and falling into the cycle of reincarnation."

"Now, with the Demonic Celestial Court [the celestial court established by demonic cultivators and beings] dominating the present age, it is his turn—the Solar Divine Emperor—to stand at the forefront and bear the brunt."

Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor offered no immediate response to these words. Only after a long silence did he speak again, his tone detached. "By my reckoning, the time for our comrade Grand Yin to return draws near."

"It should be within these next few Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of destruction and renewal]."

Purple Tenuity Divine Emperor spoke up once more, adding, "However, during the cataclysm at the end of the Primordial Era, our comrade Grand Yin lost his authority over his Great Dao, while his adversary succeeded in attaining the Chaos realm."

"I fear that even upon his return, with his innate Great Dao now held by another, Grand Yin will have no choice but to seek a different path. It is likely he will find it nearly impossible to ever break through to the Chaos realm again."

"A pity."

Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor let out a soft sigh, shaking his head as he said, "If Solar Divine Emperor had not coveted the Starry Great Dao, our Divine Race would have possessed four Chaos Divine Emperor even back in the Primordial Era. How could we have been reduced to this tripartite stalemate?"

"Alas, the three of you were each born holding a portion of the Starry Great Dao, destined from the start to be as incompatible as fire and water. Perhaps this was the tribulation fate decreed for our Divine Race."

Purple Tenuity Divine Emperor's expression turned slightly cold. So it was that back then, Solar Divine Emperor had attained the Dao through the Great Dao of the Sun, yet had also seized a portion of the Starry Great Dao.

In the final years of the Primordial Era, in order to further consolidate his grasp over the Starry Great Dao, he schemed against Lunar Divine Empress and Purple Tenuity Divine Emperor, seizing sole authority over the cosmic Starry Great Dao.

It was precisely because of this—because Solar Celestial Emperor simultaneously wielded two Great Daos—that he was able to overpower the Primordial Phoenix, who commanded the Dao of Space, and the Candle Dragon Celestial Emperor, who cultivated the Dao of Time, becoming the foremost of the Demon Race's three Celestial Emperors.

In truth, the present Solar Celestial Emperor is one of the mightiest beings within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains. Even the most ancient Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor and the Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor who preached the Dao across the myriad heavens have no certainty of victory against Him.

Returning to the matter at hand, as the thoughts of the two Divine Emperors flickered, the Demon Race Celestial Emperor on the other side also opened their eyes one by one.

The Primordial Phoenix Celestial Emperor showed a trace of surprise, then inquired of his disciples: "Go and investigate. Find out who has achieved the True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the highest state of spiritual cultivation, where one's soul essence becomes a true, independent spirit]. Command the younger generation of our clan: during this tribulation, they must on no account make an enemy of this one."

On the other side, within the gaze of the Candle Dragon Celestial Emperor, the flow of years swirled for an instant before his eyes closed once more.

The Solar Celestial Emperor [the supreme ruler of the celestial realm] gazed calmly at the True Spirit [the primordial, sentient essence of a being] named Ronan, a meaningful glint in his eyes. "It seems this Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cycle of cosmic destruction and renewal] will be more intriguing than I anticipated," he remarked.

"Summon the Third Prince. Let him descend into the tribulation for a time," he commanded.

"Tell him this is a sharpened blade, and also his finest whetstone."

Elsewhere, the Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor [the progenitor of all cultivation and the Dao itself] was engaged in a game of strategy with Sage-King of the Grand Abyss. He stared intently at the True Spirit Imprint [the unique spiritual signature of a True Spirit] named Ronan, then said with profound interest, "Excellent…"

"From this day forth, he has ascended to the True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the highest tier of spiritual cultivation, merging one's Primordial Spirit with a True Spirit]. Even if those old fossils were to discover him and cast aside all dignity, they could no longer utterly extinguish him."

Sage-King of the Grand Abyss's expression remained placid. "He bears a resemblance, yet is fundamentally different. I am deeply curious about his connection to 'Zi' [a mysterious figure or concept]," he stated calmly.

"Brother, your comprehension of creation's mysteries is peerless. Do you perceive the secret within this?"

"It cannot be spoken. It cannot be spoken."

The Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor placed a final piece upon the board, his gaze turning inscrutable as he regarded Taiyuan. "You have lost."

"Ah."

"Why are there so many True Spirit Imprint [the fundamental spiritual signatures left behind by powerful beings upon their death]?"

Sage-King of the Grand Abyss's expression froze for a moment. He rose to his feet in a rare loss of composure, his gaze fixed upon the True Spirit [the primordial, undying spiritual essence of a being] Long Ronan, inadvertently overturning the chessboard in his shock.

"A thunderous roar—"

Just as the Celestial Emperors and Divine Sovereigns were reeling in astonishment, Eldrin Chen was bathed within the torrent of the True Spirit Imprint Long Ronan.

His Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] drank in the True Spirit Imprint with a ravenous thirst, absorbing a number beyond counting—myriads upon myriads—in the span of a single breath.

Countless True Spirit Imprint surged into Eldrin Chen's Primordial Spirit, merging and intertwining with his spiritual essence. They coalesced into one True Spirit sigil after another.

These sigils gathered into Dao patterns, and without his conscious notice, they began to tinge his Primordial Spirit with a profound violet-gold hue.

By the time Eldrin Chen realized his Primordial Spirit had completely fused with the True Spirit, the deluge of True Spirit Imprint showed no sign of ceasing, continuing its relentless descent.

"Such an immense quantity of True Spirit Imprint."

Eldrin Chen felt a tremor of awe, his features etched with profound astonishment.

He discovered that as he continuously refined the soul essence, his True Spirit Primordial Spirit was still absorbing the True Spirit Imprint [a metaphysical imprint left by a powerful soul upon its destruction].

After Eldrin Chen completely refined the remaining soul essence, he found that a vast, surging tide of True Spirit Imprint swirled incessantly around his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], ultimately pouring into the apertures of his Primordial Spirit like a dragon returning to the sea.

This countless multitude of True Spirit Imprint continuously flooded into the apertures of his Primordial Spirit, gradually dyeing them a violet-gold hue.

When all tribulations had passed, Eldrin Chen discovered that among the nine great apertures of his Primordial Spirit, those which had refined Primordial Chaos Qi [the primordial, undifferentiated energy of creation] had all been transformed into that same violet-gold color.

However, due to insufficient True Spirit Imprint, the other eight apertures remained their original, innate state.

"The True Spirit Aperture [an ascended aperture of the Primordial Spirit, empowered by Eternal True Spirit energy]?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a flicker of astonishment crossing his features.

In that moment, Eldrin Chen comprehended the power contained within this violet-gold aperture.

This aperture, he realized, was named the True Spirit Aperture. It was a sublimation of an innate aperture, fortified by the power of the Eternal True Spirit [the indestructible, everlasting essence of a supreme soul].

By integrating an Innate Divine Ability [a power born with a cultivator's soul] into this aperture, the True Spirit [the essence of a true, powerful soul] would fuse with the divine ability. The True Spirit Aperture would then continuously nurture and temper the ability, perpetually enhancing its might until it ultimately underwent Ascension [a transcendent evolution] and became a True Spirit Divine Ability [a divine ability empowered by and inseparable from the cultivator's True Spirit essence].

This is also the sole method for a True Spirit Divine Ability to Ascension [to evolve to a higher state]. Apart from this method, no matter how powerful a divine ability might be, its potency can only reach the Eleventh Limit [the theoretical peak of a divine ability's power before it requires a fundamental evolution].

Conversely, no matter how seemingly weak a divine ability is, once it is integrated into a True Spirit Aperture [a supreme cultivation node that can nurture a divine ability's essence], its power can gradually increase, allowing it to Ascension and become a True Spirit Divine Ability [a divine ability that has transcended its original limits], whose might far surpasses the Eleventh Limit.

Furthermore, a True Spirit Aperture can also amplify the power of a divine ability, and its effect is far more potent.

Compared to an ordinary innate aperture, which can only boost a divine ability's power by thirty percent and reduce its Qi consumption by seventy percent, a True Spirit Aperture can double the divine ability's power and reduce its Qi consumption by a staggering ninety percent.