Chapter 1873 : A Realm of Ancient Peril

The eight of them soared through the air, swiftly alighting upon the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent, yet each was struck with awe by the vista that unfolded before them.

This Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent was truly boundless in its expanse, vaster than an Immortal Domain by a factor of thousands, yet it was saturated with a palpable aura of dreadful slaughter.

With but a cursory glance, Eldrin Chen discerned countless spirit mountains and earth veins, alongside a multitude of rare and exotic beasts that beat their wings against the heavens. Each of these creatures exuded an immensely powerful presence, among which were beings rivaling Celestial Immortal and even Ancient Immortal Realm cultivators.

"The cultivation environment within the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent is exceptionally rich, having nurtured countless divine ancient beasts and malevolent spirits. Since antiquity, it has served as the premier training ground for the direct disciples of the great ancient sects."

"There are even fearsome entities within, comparable to Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal cultivators. We must proceed with caution."

It was at this moment that Umbralia spoke, her tone grave.

Eldrin Chen nodded, his gaze shifting towards a distant mountain range. "There lies an earth vein of considerable potency. Let us investigate."

With those words, Eldrin Chen was the first to move, swiftly arriving before the earth vein.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountains, Eldrin Chen observed, "This is a Great Luo Earth Vein [a supreme-grade spiritual land vein associated with the Grand Luo realm]. A pity it seems a portion of its foundational essence has been lost."

Umbralia also inclined her head in agreement, pondering as she spoke, "This Great Luo Earth Vein was once the Dao-field [a cultivator's sanctified place of practice and enlightenment] of a Grand Luo cultivator from the Immortal Cosmos Origin Domain. Though now incomplete, with each Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial marking the end of a cosmic cycle], it still births at least one Great Luo Rare Treasure [a precious material or artifact of Grand Luo grade]."

"Nevertheless, we must proceed with caution, for this place may harbor Primordial Malevolent Spirit [ancient, undying spirits of immense malice and power]."

"I see."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and immediately strode towards the Great Luo Earth Vein.

Yet this time, the moment Eldrin Chen drew near the Great Luo Earth Vein, he felt a torrential wave of murderous intent erupt from within. In its wake, a horned, spectral entity shot forth.

"Beware! It is a Primordial Malevolent Spirit!"

Umbralia warned instantly, summoning a golden bracelet in readiness.

Eldrin Chen glanced upward, and with a flip of his palm, he manifested the Primordial Chaos Heaven Halberd. He unleashed a sweeping strike, clashing violently with the Primordial Malevolent Spirit.

From the first exchange, Eldrin Chen realized this Primordial Malevolent Spirit was no ordinary foe. It possessed a terrifying, extraordinary strength. Relying on physical power alone, Eldrin Chen could not gain the upper hand.

"This Primordial Malevolent Spirit is indeed formidable."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, his thoughts turning to the origins of the Primordial Malevolent Spirit.

So-called Primordial Malevolent Spirit [a terrifying entity born from the lingering resentment and fragmented souls of ancient powerhouses] are entities formed from the unwilling remnants of souls and coalesced resentment left behind by the supreme powerhouses of the Immortal Cosmos Origin Domain [the primordial realm where the cosmos began] after their deaths in the Primordial Era.

They might be born from the residual soul of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal who has attained the Grand Luo realm], or they could be transformations of the ancient guardian beasts of the Great Luo Ancient Sect [an ancient and mighty sect from the Grand Luo era]. They were refined by the various Chaos Celestial Emperor [supreme rulers born from primordial chaos] into the Grand Luo [the highest realm of cultivation] earth veins of the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent [a vast, ancient landmass filled with immortal ruins], becoming forbidden existences that are neither truly alive nor completely extinguished.

Even if such an entity is slain, it can resurrect by drawing upon the vital energies of the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent over the span of a single Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration, often involving great calamity]. For an Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations], they serve as excellent whetstones to hone one's skills.

Thinking of this, a flicker of battle intent also arose within Eldrin Chen's heart.

He began to fight with his full power, even channeling the might of his True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the perfected and solidified spiritual core of a supreme cultivator] to bolster himself. In short order, he completely suppressed this Primordial Malevolent Spirit.

"Incredible power."

Witnessing this scene, Umbralia could not help but feel astonished.

The combat prowess Eldrin Chen displayed at this moment far surpassed that of an ordinary Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal, even demonstrating absolute dominance over one. This realization caused great shock to stir within her.

Although she had long suspected that Eldrin Chen must have forged an Indestructible Foundation [a legendary, unshakable foundation for one's cultivation path] since he had caught the eye of Grand Nether Emperor Lord, she never imagined his battle strength would reach such heights.

"With power like this, even if it does not quite match the likes of Zhuyin and his peers, he can be considered a top-tier Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal. No wonder he gained the favor of an Emperor Lord."

Umbralia murmured softly in her heart, yet instantly reined in her thoughts, turning instead to provide him with covering support from the flanks.

The others, seeing this, also refrained from intervening in the battle. For now, it was merely a single Indestructible True Spirit [a malevolent spectral entity of immense power and near-immortality]; it was the perfect opportunity to first gauge the strength of such a foe.

Eldrin Chen clashed fiercely with the Indestructible True Spirit. Initially, he wished to test the full extent of its combat prowess. After exchanging over three hundred blows and thoroughly discerning the limits of the spectral entity's power, he lost any desire to prolong the duel.

He did not rush to reveal his true strength, instead directly calling for Lyra Jiang and the others to join the assault and surround the foe.

Though the Indestructible True Spirit was formidable, facing the combined siege of eight experts including Lyra Jiang, Nyssa Qu, and the Rift-Heaven Demon Emperor, it ultimately found itself powerless to reverse its fate. Mere moments later, it was slain amidst the void.

"Not bad."

Unexpectedly, after the Indestructible True Spirit was slain, no Dao Source [the condensed essence of a cultivator's comprehension of the Dao] remained. Instead, it left behind a portion of Great Luo Rare Treasure [a treasure of profound rarity and power from the Great Luo realm]—specifically, an Earth Element Origin [the primordial, condensed essence of the Earth element].

Eldrin Chen immediately moved to collect this Earth Element Origin. But at that very moment, a dazzling immortal radiance erupted in the distance, followed immediately by a brilliant sword energy cleaving through the void towards him.

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly. With a flick of his sleeve, he channeled his Primordial Chaos Qi [the primordial, undifferentiated energy from which all creation emerged] to block the strike.

Looking back, he saw that in the distant void, hundreds upon hundreds of Chaos Ancient Ships [ancient vessels capable of navigating the primordial chaos] were now converging, surrounding their position.

At the forefront of these ancient vessels, where a great banner flew from a Chaos Ancient Ships, stood ten figures whose auras blazed like the midday sun.

Eldrin Chen glanced at the banner, then at a particular figure clad in black robes, a slight frown creasing his brow. "Vorgath the Heaven-Faller [a title meaning 'He Who Fell from Heaven'], of the Roc Clan?"

Rift-Heaven Demon Emperor also recognized the newcomers. His expression grew solemn as he intoned, "The Golden Feather King Roc, the Azure Sky Roc, the Violet Radiance Roc, the Ethereal Sky Roc, the Crimson Departure Roc, the Dark Roc, and the Golden-Winged Roc... It seems the Great Roc Tribe has assembled in full force."

The others present felt a tremor of apprehension at his words.

Within the Demon Race, the Great Roc Tribe had always been counted among the most powerful of the Imperial Clans.

This lineage boasted several Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch. Their leader, the Golden-Winged Great Roc Emperor Lord, was a being who had reached the very peak of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm.

Beneath the Golden-Winged Roc and the Dark Roc bloodlines, the tribe comprised nine other Grand Luo sub-lineages, including the Golden Feather King Roc, Azure Sky Roc, Violet Radiance Roc, Ethereal Sky Roc, and Crimson Departure Roc.

This time, the Great Roc Tribe had dispatched ten Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal. Among them were three of pure Golden-Winged Roc blood, two from the Dark Roc line, and the remaining five hailing from the Golden Feather King Roc, Azure Sky Roc, Violet Radiance Roc, Ethereal Sky Roc, and Crimson Departure Roc branches.

"Ten Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal... The Great Roc Tribe's might is indeed not to be underestimated,"

Umbralia murmured softly. She glanced at Eldrin Chen. "A confrontation with them would likely be a brutal struggle. Should we perhaps..."

Eldrin Chen did not answer, merely turning his gaze towards Vorgath the Heaven-Faller and inquiring, "It has been a long time, Fellow Daoist. You cut quite the imposing figure."

That Vorgath the Heaven-Faller offered a faint smile, casting a glance at Eldrin Chen as he declared, "I never imagined we would meet again. Let us dispense with pleasantries. Hand over the Grand Luo Earth Element Origin [the primordial essence of the earth element] and relinquish this fractured spiritual vein, and I shall permit your departure."

Eldrin Chen remained utterly composed. With a swift motion, he stored away the Grand Luo Earth Element Origin, simultaneously sending a voice transmission to Umbralia: "What is the measure of their strength?"

Umbralia promptly responded via transmission, informing the group of the opponents' capabilities: "According to my intelligence, the other Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations] cultivators from the Roc Clan appear to possess only ordinary power for their realm."

"However, the 'Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion' of the Golden-Winged Roc [a mythical bird of immense power and speed], and the Imperial Scion Vorgath the Nether Prison of the Dark Roc Clan, are both prodigies who have each triumphantly weathered at least one Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial]. They have refrained from breaking through to a higher realm solely to forge a more formidable foundation."

As she relayed the information, the group gradually grasped the extent of their adversaries' power.

According to Umbralia's account, the Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion had cultivated both an Indestructible Body [a physique of legendary resilience] and the Indestructible Great Dao [a supreme cultivation art focused on unbreakable principles]. He was reputed to possess the potential of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a sovereign ruler from the dawn of chaos] and had once held his ground against a joint assault from three Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal without defeat. His sole reason for not advancing to Grand Luo [the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm] was to first perfect his Indestructible Dao Fruit [the ultimate, unbreakable fruit of one's cultivation path].

The reason for such meticulous preparation was that once one achieved these three Indestructible Foundation [pillars of an unshakable cultivation base]—the body, the Great Dao, and the Dao Fruit [the crystallized essence of one's cultivation path]—their combat power would undergo a qualitative leap. Upon subsequently proving their Dao and attaining the realm of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal, they would immediately rank among the most powerful within the early stage of that realm.

The 'Vorgath the Nether Prison' of the Dark Roc Imperial Clan was likewise a prodigy, far surpassing his clansman and cousin, Vorgath the Heaven-Faller. Legends spoke of him having cultivated an Indestructible Body, granting him combat power that vastly exceeded that of an ordinary Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal.

After outlining their opponents' strength, Umbralia continued, "To contend with Vorgath the Nether Prison would require at least two ordinary Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal. Coupled with the even more formidable Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion, dealing with those two alone would demand a force of five Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal."

"Moreover, they outnumber us. I do not advise continuing this battle."

Yet, after hearing the enemy's strength, Eldrin Chen felt a subtle sense of calm settle within him.

He glanced at Lyra Jiang and asked, "Those Chaos Ancient Ships and the Ancient Immortal Celestial Immortal [a supreme immortal who has transcended the mortal realm]—can you hold them off?"

"Without a doubt," Lyra Jiang replied decisively.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then turned his gaze to Vorgath the Heaven-Faller. "If you truly wished to let us leave," he said, "you would not be in such haste to deploy your formation."

The others looked around and saw that over a thousand Chaos Ancient Ships had already encircled them from all directions, faintly weaving together into a vast sealing formation.

Vorgath the Heaven-Faller offered no reply. Instead, Vorgath the Nether Prison on the other side sneered coldly. "A jest. You are eight Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [ancient immortals who have survived eight heavenly tribulations]. By slaughtering you all and seizing your Dao Source [the primordial essence of one's cultivation path], my power may very well advance another step."

Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion remained composed, a trace of curiosity in his eyes as he regarded the group. "What puzzles me," he said calmly, "is why, with your strength, you did not flee for your lives the moment you had the chance."

"Because..."

"I, too, desire your Dao Source [the primordial essence of one's cultivation path]!"

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen fiercely summoned the Primordial Chaos Heaven Halberd into the sky, charging forth to slay the Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion.

"A jest."

The Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion sneered coldly, mounting a Golden Divine Spear that soared into the air. In an instant, a torrent of overwhelming force descended to suppress him, clashing fiercely with Eldrin Chen.

Vorgath the Nether Prison also let out a cold laugh, gripping a massive halberd that cleaved through the void, joining the Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion in a pincer assault against Eldrin Chen.

Yet, after the initial exchange, both the Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion and Vorgath the Nether Prison were greatly astonished. They discovered that even with their combined efforts, Eldrin Chen seemed to hold his ground without faltering.

Even though they had not unleashed their full power, they were still taken aback by the strength displayed by Eldrin Chen.

"This one is formidable."

The Imperial Scion of the Golden Feather King Roc clan murmured, a flicker of surprise appearing between his brows.

"It matters not." At that moment, Vorgath the Heaven-Faller sneered and spoke. "Ten against eight. The advantage is ours."

As his words faded, Vorgath the Heaven-Faller was the first to surge forward, plunging into fierce combat with the others.

As the group unleashed their full power, the great battle erupted in an instant. Apart from Eldrin Chen, Lyra Jiang needed to contend with the Primordial Ancient Ship and the grand formation of the Golden-Winged Roc clan using the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Sword Formation.

The remaining six individuals faced eight powerful experts from the Roc Clan, seemingly falling into a numerical disadvantage.

Fortunately, Umbralia, as the direct disciple of the Grand Nether Emperor Lord, had long ago cultivated the Indestructible Primordial Spirit [a state where the spiritual core becomes nearly unbreakable]. Her strength was not inferior to Vorgath the Nether Prison. She single-handedly held back the Imperial Scions from both the Azure Sky Roc and Crimson Departure Roc clans, greatly alleviating the pressure on the others.

Although Reincarnation Body [a powerful clone cultivated through reincarnation cycles] had not yet broken through to the Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal realm, it had after all achieved the True Spirit Foundation [a profound foundation for the spiritual core]. Holding back two Golden-Winged Roc Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal by itself, it still appeared effortless and composed.

Nyssa Qu, the Ancient Ice Phoenix, the Demon Emperor Rift-Heaven, and the Chaos Black Dragon faced off against the remaining four Imperial Scions of the Roc Clan. For a time, neither side could gain a decisive upper hand.

Thus, the two sides continued their fierce battle. In the blink of an eye, over three thousand exchanges had passed, yet the battlefield remained locked in a stalemate.

Seeing that the deadlock on the battlefield remained unbroken, Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion furrowed his brow slightly. He could no longer afford to hold back his true strength.

He exchanged a glance with Vorgath the Nether Prison and then spoke, "We must unleash our full power. If we delay any longer, we risk drawing the attention of others."

"Agreed."

Vorgath the Nether Prison nodded. Immediately, he summoned a chain of black and gold that shot across the sky, aiming to suppress Eldrin Chen.

This black-gold iron chain, named the Heaven-Falling Divine Chain, is the Innate Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual treasure bound to one's life essence from birth] of Vorgath the Nether Prison. It was forged from Great Luo Grade Dragon-Patterned Black Gold [a legendary metal bearing dragon-scale patterns] into an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual treasure of innate origin, superior to crafted ones], and further refined by fusing it with a single strand of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a primal, unbreakable spiritual radiance].

To use Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light to Ascension [advance or elevate] one's lifebound Spiritual Treasure is an act of considerable extravagance even for the Great Luo Ancient Sect. The reason Vorgath the Nether Prison was granted such an honor was because he had successfully cultivated the Indestructible Body [a legendary physique of supreme resilience], a feat for which he was rewarded by the Dark Great Roc Progenitor.

Now, with Vorgath the Nether Prison pouring his full power into driving it, the Heaven-Falling Divine Chain transformed into a colossal chain of the Great Dao [the fundamental principle governing all existence], blotting out the sky and completely sealing off Eldrin Chen's path of retreat.

Simultaneously, the Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion also launched his full assault. Wielding the Golden Divine Spear in his left hand and the Heaven-Sundering God-Slaying Sword in his right, he charged towards Eldrin Chen, aiming to slay him in the instant he was trapped.

It must be acknowledged that the Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion's combat prowess was truly formidable. Both his Golden Divine Spear and Heaven-Sundering God-Slaying Sword were Innate Spiritual Treasure. Driven by his dual Indestructible Foundation [a supremely stable and powerful cultivation base], the explosive force he unleashed was sufficient for him to slay an Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations] within a short span of time.

Had Eldrin Chen been an ordinary Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal, trapped by the Heaven-Falling Divine Chain and facing the Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion's full-force strike, he would undoubtedly have been slain on the spot.

Yet he was anything but ordinary. At the critical moment, he manifested the True Aegis of Primordial Chaos [a supreme defensive technique conjuring a shield of primal chaos], withstanding the Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion's murderous onslaught.

Then, with a mighty grip, he seized the Heaven-Falling Divine Chain and, with immense force, yanked Vorgath the Nether Prison towards him.

"Not good!"

A jolt of alarm shot through Vorgath the Nether Prison's heart, a sudden and ominous premonition washing over him.

He immediately wanted to release his grip, but alas, it was already too late. He saw Eldrin Chen suddenly strike, seizing Vorgath the Nether Prison with the Grasping Hand of Primordial Chaos [a divine ability that manifests a giant hand of chaotic energy], firmly suppressing him within his grasp.

Vorgath the Nether Prison was struck with terror. In his panic, he mustered all his strength to unleash a barrage of divine abilities in resistance, only to find the colossal Chaos [the primordial state of undifferentiated matter and energy] hand utterly immovable. For a moment, he felt the profound helplessness of an ant trying to shake the heavens.

"What kind of divine ability is this? How can it be so powerful?"

Meanwhile, Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion also sensed something was amiss. He saw the scion channel his full power, driving the ancient spear-sword to slash down in a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped Vorgath the Nether Prison.

Yet, Eldrin Chen merely furrowed his brow slightly. With a flick of his sleeve, he unleashed a bolt of Primordial Chaos Divine Thunder [a divine thunder born from the power of primordial chaos]. The strike sent the scion reeling through the air, blood spraying from his mouth in an instant.

"Such destructive force... This is bad! It's a True Spirit Divine Ability [a divine ability of unparalleled power, born from a True Spirit foundation]!"

After being grievously wounded by that single blow, Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion suddenly remembered something, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow. "It actually is a True Spirit Divine Ability? Then... doesn't that mean *he* was the one who achieved the True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the pinnacle state of spiritual cultivation, forming a Primordial Spirit of True Spirit grade] back then?"

In that fleeting moment, a chill of dread ran down Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion's spine.

He prided himself on being among the very top-tier Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an Ancient Immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations], yet he understood all too well the terrifying might of one who had forged a True Spirit Foundation [the foundational cultivation realm achieved with True Spirit grade potential].

For a True Spirit Foundation signifies the bearing of a Dao Progenitor [the ultimate originator of a Great Dao]. Throughout the entire expanse of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, across dozens or even hundreds of Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of immense duration, often involving great cataclysms], such a figure might not emerge even once.

Facing such a figure, even with all his confidence, Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion knew he was far from a match. This was especially true since Eldrin Chen had cultivated both a True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the ultimate spiritual core of a cultivator] and a True Spirit Foundation [the supreme foundation for divine abilities].

Understanding the cause and effect of the situation, Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion immediately abandoned the long-fallen Vorgath the Heaven-Faller. Transforming into a streak of light, he pierced through the sky, fleeing the heart of the battlefield entirely on his own.

"How swiftly he flees."

Watching Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion escape, Eldrin Chen shook his head with a tinge of regret.

With his current power, slaying an Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations] was not difficult. Had Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion not chosen flight, given time, Eldrin Chen held great confidence in his ability to end him.

Alas, upon sensing the dire turn, Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion had fled the battlefield at the first moment, denying Eldrin Chen any chance to deliver the final blow.

In truth, Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion had not erred. The combat prowess granted by a True Spirit Foundation created a chasm so vast, so nearly insurmountable, when compared to those without it.

Once Eldrin Chen unleashed his full might, suppressing Vorgath the Nether Prison with his True Spirit Divine Ability [a supreme power born from a True Spirit Foundation], any further struggle by Firmament Heaven Imperial Scion would have been utterly futile.

"BOOM—"

At that very moment, the other members of the Roc Clan [a powerful clan of giant avian demons] witnessed their Imperial Scion's flight. A sense of impending catastrophe washed over them. Immediately, they scattered like leaves in a storm, each fleeing desperately into the distance.

Eldrin Chen decisively activated the Abyssal Pearl and, coordinating with the others, managed to detain five of them. Only Vorgath the Heaven-Faller, the Azure Sky Roc, and one Golden-Winged Roc Imperial Scion managed to escape.

The remaining five Roc Clan Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [cultivators who have survived eight heavenly tribulations and attained the Ancient Immortal realm] attempted to breach the Abyssal Pearl's blockade and flee. Unfortunately, Umbralia, Rift-Heaven Demon Emperor, and the others had no intention of letting them succeed. They immediately moved to intercept, completely cutting off any chance of escape.

Seizing this opportunity, Eldrin Chen accelerated the activation of the Primordial Chaos Qi Grasping Hand [a divine ability that manifests a giant hand of primordial chaos energy to seize and crush], hastening the process of suppression and annihilation.

Although Vorgath the Nether Prison possessed an Indestructible Body [a legendary physique renowned for its near-unbreakable resilience], how could he possibly withstand a True Spirit Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power derived from one's primordial spiritual essence]?

In merely the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he was utterly suppressed and ground to dust within that colossal palm, leaving behind only an exceptionally pure Dao Source [the crystallized essence of a cultivator's comprehension of the Dao, a priceless treasure].

Having slain Vorgath the Nether Prison, a prodigy who had laid an Indestructible Foundation [a legendary, supremely stable foundation for future cultivation], Eldrin Chen finally felt a weight lift from his mind.

He swept his gaze across the battlefield. The Celestial Immortal [the realm above Earth Immortal, closer to true divinity] Ancient Immortal [venerable cultivators of immense age and power] of the Golden-Winged Roc Clan had already been routed by Lyra Jiang. Meanwhile, trapped beneath the shroud of the Abyssal Pearl, the five Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal were being relentlessly encircled and slaughtered by his allies.

Yet, Eldrin Chen did not press the attack further.

A life-and-death struggle against foes of the Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal level was the finest whetstone for one's own prowess. With Eldrin Chen overseeing the battle, these Roc Clan Imperial Scions were nothing but fish in a barrel. It was far better to use this chance to temper the combat skills of his companions.

His allies, for their part, were more than happy to have such formidable whetstones. They immediately plunged into fierce combat with the five Roc Clan Imperial Scions.

Battles between Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [cultivators who have survived eight heavenly tribulations] are rarely decisive unless they escalate into utterly desperate, life-or-death duels.

Realizing escape was impossible, the five Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal from the Roc Clan [a powerful clan of giant avian demons] threw all caution to the wind, erupting in a final, desperate struggle and unleashing their utmost combat prowess.

Alas, outnumbered and outmatched in strength, their efforts were ultimately in vain.

After several thousand exchanges, the Reincarnation Body [a powerful avatar or clone formed through profound reincarnation arts] achieved the first victory, slaying the Ethereal Sky Roc [a celestial roc demon of immense speed and grace] in a one-on-one duel.

Umbralia secured the second triumph. Following a fierce clash of tens of thousands of moves against her opponent, she emerged victorious, beheading the Imperial Scion of the Violet Radiance Roc Clan in single combat.

The remaining allies joined forces to besiege the Imperial Scions of the three clans—the Golden-Winged Roc [a roc with feathers of shimmering gold], the Crimson Departure Roc [a roc whose wings blaze with crimson fire], and the Golden Feather King Roc [a monarch among rocs with majestic golden plumage]—yet found it difficult to finish them off swiftly.

After witnessing over one hundred thousand exchanges without a decisive outcome, Eldrin Chen deemed the training value of the battle sufficient and finally intervened, personally cutting down these three eight-tribulation great rocs.

"It is over."

With that, the battle concluded completely.

Having successively slaughtered six Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal from the Roc Clan, everyone present heaved a profound sigh of relief.

Umbralia cast a surprised glance at Eldrin Chen, then sighed and said, "I never imagined you had already cultivated both a True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the ultimate spiritual core, a soul refined to its truest essence] and True Spirit Divine Ability [a supreme mystical power born from one's truest spiritual nature]. It seems I have gravely underestimated you."

"I believe your strength has now surpassed that of Candle Dragon Scion. Even if you are not yet the equal of Aurelius, the Little Celestial Emperor, the gap cannot be far."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile, yet profound calmness dwelled within the depths of his gaze.

As he gathered all the Dao Source [the primordial source essence of the Great Dao], he watched as these Innate Spiritual Treasure [treasures born from the primal chaos of creation, containing innate laws] erupted with dazzling, miraculous light. They then tore through the firmament, vanishing into the distant void's end.

Eldrin Chen made no move to pursue them. Behind each of these Innate Spiritual Treasure stood at least one Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal who has attained the Grand Luo realm], and most likely one of mid-stage cultivation or higher within that realm.

For it was rare for an early-stage Grand Luo Golden Immortal to possess a surplus Innate Spiritual Treasure to bestow.

Under such circumstances, attempting to seize these treasures would be tantamount to declaring war upon those Grand Luo Golden Immortal, a transaction far too costly to be worthwhile.

In truth, during the Kalpa Tribulation [the cosmic cycles of cataclysm and renewal], it was an unspoken rule, almost openly acknowledged, that the Innate Spiritual Treasure of a fallen Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived eight great kalpa tribulations] were left untouched after a decisive battle.

In the eyes of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal, an Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal incapable of proving their Dao and ascending to Grand Luo was far less valuable than an Innate Spiritual Treasure.

After all, with an Innate Spiritual Treasure in hand, a Grand Luo Golden Immortal could, across the vast eons of the Kalpa Tribulation, continuously nurture Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal disciples, until one day, one among them might achieve Ascension [the ultimate breakthrough to a higher state of being] and become a Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

Therefore, as a general rule, the victor does not claim the Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme treasure born from the essence of heaven and earth], and the Grand Luo Golden Immortals [the supreme cultivators who have attained the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm] behind the defeated will not seek retribution against the victor. This has become an unspoken rule tacitly accepted by all parties throughout the countless Kalpa Tribulations [cosmic cycles of destruction and rebirth] within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad realms of immortals].

Returning to the main narrative, after the great battle concluded, the group swiftly gathered their spoils and proceeded to the heart of this damaged Great Luo Earth Vein [a supreme earth-type spiritual ley line of the Grand Luo level].

Eldrin Chen first scoured the depths of the Great Luo Earth Vein, discovering a single piece of Great Luo Rare Treasure [an exceedingly rare material of the Grand Luo grade]—a Qiankun Mother Stone [a primordial stone containing the essence of space and creation]. Beyond that, no other Great Luo Rare Treasures were found.

Having thoroughly searched the Great Luo Earth Vein, Eldrin Chen gathered with the others atop the earth vein's peak to tally their gains from the battle. A smile touched his lips as he remarked, "It seems our harvest from this endeavor is quite substantial."

Upon hearing his words, smiles graced the faces of all present.

In this great conflict, they had successively slain six Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortals [immortals who have survived eight heavenly tribulations], including one, Vorgath the Nether Prison, who had cultivated an Indestructible Body [a physique of legendary resilience]. Their spoils could indeed be described as exceptionally bountiful.

In terms of Dao Sources [the condensed essence of a cultivator's comprehension of the Dao] from Eight Tribulation experts alone, they had obtained six. These belonged to the six Demon Race [a race of powerful beings often in conflict with cultivators] Imperial Scions they had slain: Vorgath the Nether Prison, the Ethereal Sky Roc [a mythical roc demon of immense size and power], the Golden-Winged Roc [a legendary roc with golden wings], the Crimson Departure Roc [a fiery roc demon], the Golden Feather King Roc [a regal roc with golden plumage], and the Violet Radiance Roc [a roc shrouded in violet light].

Furthermore, from the possessions of their fallen foes, they had acquired four additional pieces of Great Luo Rare Treasure.

These four rare treasures were each of astonishing value: one piece of Spatial Source Stone [a stone containing the primal essence of space], one portion of Crimson Departure Fire Jade [a fiery jade imbued with the power of departure flames], one Thunder Feather [a feather crackling with thunderous energy], and one ingot of Dark Immortal Gold [a mysterious metal used in forging supreme artifacts].

My condition today is somewhat poor; my head feels dizzy and unclear, though I know not the reason.