Chapter 1812 : Heaven-Shaking Fist of Primordial Might

In that instant, the heavens and earth fell silent, all color drained from the world, and even Space-Time [the fundamental fabric of reality] seemed to congeal and stall.

Immediately after, the God-Slaying Ancient Spear shattered instantly, fracturing into several pieces that were sent flying backward, each striking the physical form of Azure Sovereign.

The residual force of that single finger strike did not stop there. It transformed into a Chaos [the primordial state before creation] divine edge that surged through the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the sky], violently blasting Azure Sovereign backward through the air.

"Aaaargh—!"

In that very moment, a scream of intense agony tore through the silence.

It was seen that Azure Sovereign's entire skeletal frame was shattered inch by inch. His once-overbearing, arrogant aura was extinguished in an instant, suffering wounds of an unprecedented severity.

"Impossible!"

In that fleeting moment, Azure Sovereign roared with immense, unwilling fury and sought to disengage from the battlefield.

Yet, in that same split second, Eldrin Chen manifested the Innate Primordial One Indestructibility True Body [a supreme physical cultivation art that embodies the indestructible essence of the primordial beginning]. His form swelled to a height measured not in mere miles but in millions of light-years. With a single, deceptively simple step, he traversed the vast celestial expanse, catching up to Azure Sovereign, and then unleashed a devastating fist.

It was a sight of world-shaking, majestic immortal grandeur—a peerless demeanor that looked down upon all under heaven. The motion of his fist displayed a divine power capable of shaking the very heavens and earth and stirring the Eight Desolations [the eight furthest, most barren reaches of the cosmos]. Visit audio‑novel.com to enjoy the complete series.

The heavens and earth wailed in lamentation, the Great Path wept in sorrow.

Under the force of this single fist strike, myriad paths shattered, gods and ghosts were annihilated, all things crumbled—utterly unstoppable.

"No—!"

Azure Sovereign roared in despair, yet was simultaneously terrified to the core of his being. At this life-or-death juncture, he desperately summoned an ancient cauldron and hurled it at Eldrin Chen, hoping to seize a sliver of a chance for survival.

But Eldrin Chen was determined to slay him this time. This blow not only channeled the invincible true power of his Innate Primordial One Indestructibility Physique, but also pushed his own cultivation base and Path Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's attained enlightenment] to their absolute limits. Its might was sufficient to shatter the heavens, sunder the earth, and suppress gods and demons alike.

It was an attack meant to sever and obliterate everything!

"BOOM—!"

In the space of a single breath, the ancient cauldron exploded violently into three massive fragments, which smashed directly into Azure Sovereign's physical form.

At the same instant, the fist strike arrived. In that moment, Azure Sovereign's body was utterly shattered. A cataclysmic surge of Primordial Chaos Energy [the primordial, formless energy from which all creation emerged] erupted forth, sweeping through the Eight Desolations and grinding everything in its path into nothingness.

When the chaos finally subsided, the onlookers realized that Azure Sovereign's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest form of a cultivator's soul] had already been extinguished, and even his physical form had completely disintegrated.

"He... is dead?"

Western Essence Heavenly God murmured, his face etched with disbelief.

At the same time, Eldrin Chen slowly withdrew his hand, his expression calm as he spoke. "You could not withstand even two of my strikes. I overestimated you."

"BOOM—"

In that moment, the heavens and earth seemed to boil. Fear gripped the assembled deities, and every single person present was struck dumb with shock.

Diyang Tai Cang looked towards Eldrin Chen, his throat working soundlessly for a moment, words failing him.

Finally, he let out a sigh, leaving only a profound and heavy silence in his wake.

Eldrin Chen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his countenance remaining utterly serene. While this battle appeared to involve only two strikes from him, each blow was a full-force, all-out attack. Executing them required a period of recovery to replenish his Vitality [the fundamental life force and energy of a cultivator].

Yet it was undeniable—the Innate Primordial One Indestructibility Physique [a legendary, heaven-defying physical constitution granting near-absolute resilience] was truly, devastatingly powerful.

To shatter an Upper Grade Innate Treasure [a top-tier magical artifact born from the primordial chaos of heaven and earth] with pure physical force... such a body was likely tough enough to withstand direct blows from most Innate Ancient Treasure [ancient magical artifacts of immense power, forged in the dawn of creation].

"Hmmmm—" [a deep, resonant hum]

In that very instant, the void erupted with a violent, thunderous roar.

Western Essence Heavenly God and the others snapped to awareness, attempting to shatter the void and flee for their lives, yet they failed utterly.

For there, at the edge of Void Heaven, the Polarity Void Mirror spun, its world-shaking divine power having already frozen this entire stretch of heaven and earth, causing the group to crash against the solidified void itself.

Seizing this opportunity, Exquisite Jiang and her companions traversed the heavens and earth, encircling the trapped foes.

"BOOM—" This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio - novel . com.

Eldrin Chen also took a single step forward. With a flick of his sleeve, he brought a palm crashing down, instantly reducing Western Essence Heavenly God to a bloody mist.

The other Heavenly God [a powerful divine being] present watched in terror, their faces twisting with shock and fury as they cried out, "The Western Essence has doomed us!"

Yet Eldrin Chen showed no mercy. With a single palm strike that ground all things to dust, he annihilated the gathered deities in an instant. Even the two Late Celestial Immortal Realm [cultivators at the peak of the Celestial Immortal stage] from the Demon Race were extinguished in the blink of an eye.

When the chaos settled, only Abyss Halting Path Master and the Violet and Azure Sword Immortals couple remained in the field.

"Spare my life!"

In that instant, Abyss Halting Path Master was utterly terrified.

As a Grotto-Heaven Lord [a ruler of a major independent realm within the Immortal Domain], he shamelessly knelt before Eldrin Chen and pleaded: "Senior, spare me! Please, in consideration that we are both of the Human Race, grant me my life."

"Abyss Halting Path Master?"

Eldrin Chen spoke softly, his gaze resting calmly yet with a trace of complexity upon the figure before him.

To be honest, Eldrin Chen harbored rather complicated feelings towards the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven.

As the first Human Race Grotto-Heaven [a major independent realm within the Immortal Domain] he encountered after ascending to the Immortal Domain, the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven had long been an existence utterly beyond his reach.

Back then, Abyss Halting Path Master had seemed like a figure from myth to Eldrin Chen.

Who could have imagined that millions of years would pass in the blink of an eye, and the once unattainable Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven would now seem insignificant in his eyes?

Now, this supremely dignified Lord of Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven knelt before him, begging merely for a chance to survive.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen looked towards Abyss Halting Path Master and inquired, "After the death of Divine Abyss Path Master, your lineage still had several Celestial Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the celestial realm], including Verdant Daylily, Golden Flame, Violet Lightning, and Verdant Frost. Why have only the three of you come today?"

"This..."

Hearing this, Abyss Halting Path Master stammered, at a loss for how to respond.

Witnessing this, the Violet Lightning Sword Immortal standing nearby turned his head away and sighed. "After our founding ancestor, Divine Abyss Path Master, fell, Fellow Daoist Verdant Daylily and Golden Flame Patriarch both abandoned the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a blessed realm of profound cultivation]. They have long since defected from our sect."

Eldrin Chen nodded slightly upon hearing this.

He looked at Abyss Halting Path Master with a trace of mockery. "Golden Flame Patriarch was merely a guest Supreme Elder [a highly respected senior advisor] of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven. His departure is within my understanding."

"But Fellow Daoist Verdant Daylily was your Dao Companion [a cultivation partner bound by profound vows]. Even she chose to abandon you. You truly are a failure as a man."

Abyss Halting Path Master was left speechless by these words.

Seeing his reaction, Glazed Divine Lord sneered and spoke. "That Immortal Maiden Verdant Daylily was originally the most talented Saintess [a holy maiden of a sect] of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven thirty million years ago. She had someone she truly loved in her heart, yet she was forcibly taken by him because he desired her."

"Although Immortal Maiden Verdant Daylily later broke through to the Celestial Immortal Realm, she was compelled by the pressure from Divine Abyss Path Master to unite with him. Thus, resentment had always festered in her heart. Her defection from the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven after Divine Abyss Path Master's fall was only to be expected."

At this point, Glazed Divine Lord could not help but reveal a cold, mocking smile.

Back in the day, Abyss Halting Path Master, relying on the influence of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven, had tried to force her to become his concubine. Had it not been for the solidarity among the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races and her own offering of thirty-six Vast Sea Divine Pearl [precious pearls imbued with the essence of the vast sea], she would likely have been violated by Abyss Halting Path Master long ago.

Now, witnessing Abyss Halting Path Master abandoned by all, a sliver of vindictive pleasure surfaced in her heart.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. He turned his gaze to Abyss Halting Path Master, his expression calm as he spoke. "There is a secret I should now reveal to you."

"A secret?"

Upon hearing this, Abyss Halting Path Master felt a premonition of dread.

Eldrin Chen nodded, his voice steady. "Your grandfather, Divine Abyss Path Master... I was the one who killed him."

"No..."

Despair washed over Abyss Halting Path Master's face, and he immediately sought to flee.

He understood. If Eldrin Chen had kept this secret to himself, there might have been a sliver of a chance for survival. But now that Eldrin Chen had spoken these words aloud, there was no possibility he would be allowed to live.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen flicked his sleeve and pointed a finger. In an instant, a dazzling divine radiance pierced through the void, reducing the Abyss Halting Path Master to a bloody mist, his soul and bones utterly annihilated into dust.

If you cut the weeds but do not remove the roots, they will sprout again with the spring breeze.

Although Eldrin Chen felt this Abyss Halting Path Master could pose no threat to him, to prevent future troubles, he still completely eradicated this person.

As for whether the Abyss Halting Path Master could revive after Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth], Eldrin Chen truly did not care in his heart.

If he could slay this person in this life, then he could slay him in the next life, and the life after that, until his soul was utterly ground to dust. When a True Spirit [the foundational spiritual essence of a being] regenerates a new soul, it ultimately becomes a different person.

After killing the Abyss Halting Path Master, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze towards the two Immortals, Violet Lightning and Verdant Frost.

Seeing this, the two Sword Immortal [a title for a master of the sword path], Violet Lightning and Verdant Frost, could not help but turn pale.

Finally, Verdant Frost let out a sigh and spoke, "Coming here today, it seems it is our fate, my husband and I, to face this tribulation. Whether you kill us or cut us to pieces, we are at your mercy."

Eldrin Chen smiled faintly upon hearing this. With a sweep of his sleeve, he lifted the two of them and said, "Now that all others from the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven have fled in betrayal, only you two, husband and wife, have remained. This shows you are truly people who value loyalty."

"Such individuals, I cannot bear to kill."

"Enough. Considering your many years of cultivation were not easily attained, I shall not execute you both today."

With those words, Eldrin Chen looked at the two Mortal Path cultivators. "I sentence you to guard the Chaos Abyssal Chasm for one Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle], transforming Immortal Spirit Essence [the foundational spiritual energy of the immortal realms] for the myriad beings of the Immortal Domain. Do you accept this punishment?"

Upon hearing this, the two Sword Immortal [a title for a master of the sword path], Violet Lightning and Verdant Frost, were visibly shaken.

Their cultivation over the years had indeed been arduous. Now that they could avoid death, how could their hearts not stir with hope?

The Violet Lightning Sword Immortal immediately bowed deeply, clasping his hands in gratitude. "If the Divine Lord [a title for a powerful deity] is willing to spare our lives, we are naturally eternally grateful."

"For the remainder of our existence, we two shall guard within the Chaos Abyssal Chasm, never again to leave the Abyssal Cavern Sea Region."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. Having these two guard the Chaos Abyssal Chasm would also alleviate the pressure on the Chen Immortal Clan and the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance.

Most crucially, the character of these Violet and Verdant Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] was quite commendable. Among the seven great Celestial Immortal [a high rank among immortal cultivators] of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven, they were rare individuals of noble virtue. Eldrin Chen had no desire to see them slain.

He waved his hand dismissively, speaking with calm finality. "You may go."

Upon hearing this, the Violet and Verdant Immortals once more clasped their hands in salute, before finally departing from the Returning Abyss Heavenly Domain.

And so, this farcical affair came to an end in this manner.

Afterwards, Eldrin Chen tidied up the battlefield and, together with the members of the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance, proceeded into the Grotto-Heaven [a self-contained pocket realm of immense spiritual density] to convene a grand assembly of Celestial Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the celestial realm].

Within the Returning Abyss Grotto-Heaven, in the Violet Ye Palace.

Eldrin Chen sat upon the central dais of the Great Hall, his gaze sweeping over the gathered assembly of Immortal Alliance Immortal [beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation]. A flicker of surprise crossed his features.

To his astonishment, seated within the Great Hall were more than forty Celestial Immortal Great Power [celestial immortals of formidable strength and influence]. This was a development Eldrin Chen had not anticipated.

Over these past years, Eldrin Chen had spent most of his time either within the Chaos [the primordial, formless void beyond ordered realms] or in secluded meditation, wholly focused on preparing for his breakthrough to the Late Celestial Immortal Realm. Consequently, he had paid little heed to the affairs of the Immortal Alliance or the unfolding Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of conflict and destiny].

He had not imagined that in the brief span of a few million years, the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance would have gained over twenty new Celestial Immortal Great Power.

Among these newly ascended twenty-plus Celestial Immortal, five hailed from the Chen Immortal Clan, including figures like Thinking Past Chen and Extraordinary Chen. Six were prodigies from the Immortal Clam Clan, while the remainder were exceptional talents from the various clans within the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance.

Among them, Thinking Past Chen was Eldrin Chen's direct grandson, the eldest son of his third son, Worthy Longevity Chen, and the most outstanding prodigy among Eldrin's grandchildren. It was said he had been one of the central figures of the previous Great Tribulation, having achieved his Dao [the fundamental truth or path of cultivation] through the foundation of the Triple Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme cultivation method focusing on the unification of three primordial energies].

"A single alliance, encompassing Nine Great Grotto-Heavens, now boasts more than forty Celestial Immortal Great Power," Eldrin mused inwardly.

"And this count does not even include Diyang Tai Cang, Future, Antiquity-Tracing, Eastern Pole, and the other Celestial Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the celestial realm] guarding the Chaos Grotto-Heaven [a primordial realm of swirling, unformed energies], nor does it account for Worthy Pursuit, Worthy Path, and the others."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a flicker of pride coloring his thoughts.

At this rate, it seemed likely that before the Kalpa Tribulation [the cataclysmic cycle of cosmic destruction and renewal], the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance would boast at least over fifty Celestial Immortal Great Power [immortals of immense power who have ascended to the celestial realm].

An alliance with fifty Celestial Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the celestial realm]—such strength and foundation could be described as supremely formidable. Even within the vast expanse of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, it would rank second only to the five great Supreme Grade Grotto-Heaven [realms of the highest order, perfect for cultivation].

"As it stands now, the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance can already be called the foremost Grotto-Heaven [a blessed realm for cultivation] beneath the Ancient Immortal [immortals from a bygone era of profound power]."

With this thought, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to the assembled crowd and declared, "After today's battle, the authority of the Heavenly Path Source Artifact [a primordial artifact embodying the source of the Heavenly Dao] is entirely in our grasp. The Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea now rightfully belongs to our Returning Abyss Heaven Alliance."

"Hahaha!"

Hearing this, everyone present broke into expressions of unbridled delight.

They understood perfectly well. With the fall of the two Grotto-Heaven [realms perfect for cultivation]—Western Essence and Divine Abyss—the Returning Abyss Grotto-Heaven would become the sole Sovereign [a ruler of supreme authority] over the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

At this realization, the Violet Mystery Path Master chuckled and said, "With the two great Grotto-Heaven [realms perfect for cultivation] of Western Essence and Divine Abyss destroyed, what sense is there in still calling it the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea? In my view, from now on it should be renamed the Returning Abyss Heavenly Domain."

"Indeed, indeed! The name Returning Abyss Heavenly Domain [the newly proposed name for the vast immortal territory] carries such majestic authority!"

Upon hearing this, Heaven Abyss Path Master also clasped his hands together and laughed heartily.

Ancient Ruins Nether Lord nodded in agreement. "That is true. As far back as three million years ago, the waters of the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [the former name of the vast sea region] had already receded by more than half, transforming into endless Great Wasteland [a desolate and ancient mountain range] peaks."

"The current Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea is a place where the Water Elemental Essence has retreated, allowing the energies of Fire, Earth, Wood, and Metal to resurge. It has become far more prosperous and vibrant than it was in those bygone days."

"In my view, it was long overdue for a name change."

The other assembled Immortals wore smiles, each voicing their support for the renaming.

Seeing everyone's insistence, Eldrin Chen could only concede. "Having been called the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea for millions of years, suddenly changing it to Returning Abyss Heavenly Domain does feel somewhat unfamiliar."

With a slight smile, Eldrin Chen thus formally renamed the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea to the Returning Abyss Heavenly Domain.

After the renaming, Eldrin Chen raised a hand to quiet the excited murmurs of the Immortals and continued. "Our Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance [the coalition of immortal forces led by Eldrin Chen] now boasts over forty Celestial Immortal Great Power [powerful cultivators who have ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm], among whom are many in the mid and late stages of Celestial Immortal [a high realm of immortal cultivation]."

"The spiritual energy from the Nine Great Grotto-Heavens [nine major paradisiacal realms within the territory] alone is becoming insufficient to sustain the cultivation needs of so many powerful Celestial Immortal."

"Therefore, I intend to merge the Western Essence and Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a superior cultivation realm within a mountain or artifact, superior to a Blessed Land], elevating the Returning Abyss Grotto-Heaven to a Supreme Grade Grotto-Heaven [the highest possible grade for a Grotto-Heaven, offering immense cultivation benefits]. I request your assistance in this endeavor."

Upon hearing this, all the Immortals present revealed expressions of ecstatic joy.

For a Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realm, a foundational immortal rank], a Supreme Grade Grotto-Heaven not only provides a greater abundance of Immortal Spirit Essence [the purest form of spiritual energy in immortal realms] but also offers a significant boost to their cultivation speed.

Although, once elevated, the Returning Abyss Grotto-Heaven would become the Path-Field [the personal cultivation domain and headquarters of a powerful clan or sect] of the Chen Immortal Clan, and it was unlikely that ordinary Celestial Immortal would be permitted to cultivate at its core.

However, given Eldrin Chen's customary approach, he would most likely establish subsidiary abodes within the Returning Abyss Grotto-Heaven's periphery, making them available for the Celestial Immortal Patriarch [the founding or leading elder of a clan or sect] within the Immortal Alliance to cultivate there.

Considering this, all the Immortals clasped their hands in delight and declared, "We are willing to lend our strength to the Alliance Leader."

"Excellent."

Eldrin Chen nodded, a faint smile gracing his lips as he announced, "We shall commence the fusion of the three Grotto-Heaven tomorrow." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel`com.