Chapter 1878 : Echoes of the Abyssal Sage

"A descendant of the Human Race [the collective term for humanity in this cultivation world]?"

Eldrin Chen's heart quivered. After a moment of astonishment, he deduced the identity of the speaker.

Immediately, he took a deep breath, then bowed respectfully and said, "This junior, Eldrin, the Abyssal [Eldrin's Daoist title, referencing the profound abyss], pays his respects to Senior Taiyuan."

"You have keen eyes indeed."

The figure smiled faintly and spoke with calm composure.

By now, Eldrin Chen had largely pieced together the cause and effect of the situation.

It turned out that as far back as the Primordial Era, after the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [a collective term for the myriad realms of immortals] obtained this fragment of the Immortal Cosmos Origin Domain [the primordial realm from which all immortal domains originated], the three races—Human, Demon, and Divine—along with the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races [various powerful spirit-born races], agreed to jointly use this Immortal Cosmos Origin Domain fragment as a training ground for their descendants.

At that time, the various Grand Luo Golden Immortals [supreme immortal beings], Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarchs [rulers born from primordial chaos], and even Dao Ancestor Immortal Sages [the ultimate progenitors of the Dao] all took action, reshaping these fractured spiritual veins within the Immortal Cosmos Origin Domain.

And this Soul-Extinction Ancient Land [an ancient realm designed to temper and extinguish the soul], was personally crafted back then by Sage-King of the Grand Abyss, serving as a precious site for cultivating the soul and spirit.

Within this Soul-Extinction Ancient Land, the core is this Eye of the Storm. Here lies a faint, residual imprint left by Sage-King of the Grand Abyss, capable of drawing upon the essence of ancient and modern Forbidden Malignant Spirits [powerful, taboo spiritual entities of immense malice], ultimately forging a True Spirit Divine Soul [a perfected divine soul, a supreme state of spiritual cultivation].

By defeating this Sage-King of the Grand Abyss's split soul, one could obtain the True Spirit Origin [the primordial essence of a True Spirit, vital for profound spiritual advancement] that had been nurtured for years within the True Spirit Divine Soul [the highest tier of spiritual cultivation, representing a soul refined to its ultimate purity].

Having understood the cause and effect, the Sage-King of the Grand Abyss spoke calmly, "Though you are a descendant of my Human Race, I will not simply gift you the True Spirit Origin. A trial is still required."

"A trial?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he replied, "Please elaborate, Senior."

The Sage-King of the Grand Abyss stroked his long beard and stated plainly, "Last time, that lad Xiao Yao received the True Spirit Origin from this split soul of mine after withstanding one hundred of my strikes without defeat…"

Hearing this, Lyra Jiang could not help but brighten, "Then we only need to withstand one hundred strikes as well?"

"That will not do."

The Sage-King of the Grand Abyss shook his head, looking at Eldrin Chen with a knowing smile. "You have already cultivated a True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the foundational spiritual core of a True Spirit cultivator]. This True Spirit Origin is of no further use to you. I presume it is intended for this young lady."

"The rules change when seeking treasure for another. You must defeat this split soul of mine."

"Your reasoning is sound, Senior."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile faintly. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Since that is the case, I humbly request your guidance, Senior."

"*Clang—*"

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen acted decisively. A dazzling sword radiance tore through the air. He instantly channeled the Sky-Severing Twin Swords, merging them into a single, world-illuminating blade of light that cleaved towards his opponent.

Facing such a strike, the Sage-King of the Grand Abyss merely flicked his sleeve and pointed a single finger. With that motion, he sent the Sky-Severing Twin Swords flying back, repelled by an immense force.

In the next instant, with a sweeping gesture, he drew the Sky-Severing Twin Swords into his palm. Though the twin swords struggled and clashed with all their might, they could not escape the confinement of his grasp.

"Young man, with skills like these, you are not yet fit to claim the True Spirit Origin [the primordial source of a cultivator's spiritual essence]," he remarked dismissively.

As his voice faded, he pointed his finger once more. A sword energy capable of sundering the Myriad Heavens [the countless realms and celestial planes] surged forth, descending upon Eldrin Chen with devastating force.

Eldrin Chen's heart jolted with alarm. He immediately activated his Primordial Chaos True Aura [a divine defensive technique drawing power from primordial chaos] to block, completely neutralizing this lethal assault.

Seizing that fleeting moment, Eldrin Chen stepped forward, ascending into the sky. With a flip of his palm, he summoned forth the Primordial Chaos Divine Thunder [a supreme thunder technique born from the primal chaos] to suppress his foe.

"A formidable divine ability," the Sage-King acknowledged.

Witnessing this, Sage-King of the Grand Abyss could not help but voice his admiration.

Yet in that very instant, it transformed into an illusion and vanished, evading Eldrin Chen's seemingly certain strike.

"Not good!"

Seeing Sage-King of the Grand Abyss disappear, Eldrin Chen inwardly cursed his misfortune. He immediately pushed his True Aegis of Primordial Chaos [a supreme defensive art that manifests an indestructible shield of primordial energy] to its absolute limit.

But then, the clear ring of a sword echoed. In a flash, an illusory longsword, vast as a celestial abyss, cleaved towards him from behind, striking with such force that he was sent flying backward.

"If these are the only tricks you possess, then you are still unworthy of claiming this True Spirit Origin [the primordial essence of a spirit, a treasure of immense spiritual power]."

Sage-King of the Grand Abyss spoke with detached calm. The illusory sword energy in his hand pierced through the nine heavens, each slash radiating the divine power to sunder Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation].

After merely a few dozen exchanges, Eldrin Chen was already being suppressed and forced into a steady retreat, left with only the ability to defend himself by relying on his True Aegis of Primordial Chaos.

"His combat experience, and even his innate talent for battle, is far too astonishing. He can actually toy with me in the palm of his hand."

As he parried the attacks of Sage-King of the Grand Abyss, an expression of utmost gravity surfaced in Eldrin Chen's eyes.

In the past, relying on his innate combat talent and extensive battle experience, he had always been able to completely suppress his opponents. Even when his cultivation realm was inferior, he had never found himself in such a passive and disadvantageous position during a fight.

This time, in his clash with Sage-King of the Grand Abyss, he was nearly toyed with at the other's whim, to the point where he could barely muster any effective counterattack.

This was not due to the profound foundation of this particular soul fragment of Sage-King of the Grand Abyss. Strictly speaking, the cultivation level of this soul fragment was not high, possessing only a single True Spirit Divine Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a high level of soul cultivation].

Its actual displayed cultivation and offensive power were merely at the peak limit of a single True Spirit Foundation [the foundational stage of True Spirit cultivation], representing the ultimate combat prowess achievable by suppressing myriad paths with a single, perfected one.

With such a foundation and depth, logically, it should have been no match for Eldrin Chen, who had cultivated a dual True Spirit Foundation [possessing two perfected True Spirit foundations], granting him strength far surpassing the extreme limits of a single foundation.

The problem, however, was that Sage-King of the Grand Abyss's combat experience seemed overwhelmingly profound. Every move and technique Eldrin Chen executed fell within the other's calculations, leaving him, despite possessing powerful True Spirit [the refined spiritual essence of a cultivator] divine spirits, unable to even graze a single hair of his opponent.

"Is this the level of combat mastery possessed by a Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage [a supreme realm where one becomes a progenitor of the Dao and an immortal sage]?"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, a growing sense of awe warring with bitter realization. He shook his head with a wry smile and corrected, "No, that's not right. When the venerable one left this imprint behind, he had not yet broken through to the Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage realm."

"Strictly speaking, this should represent the combat proficiency of a mere wisp of a soul fragment from a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [an emperor-monarch who has mastered the primordial chaos, a realm below Dao Ancestor]."

As this thought solidified, Eldrin Chen's expression grew increasingly grave.

After realizing he could not even touch the hem of Sage-King of the Grand Abyss's robe, Eldrin Chen had no choice but to shift entirely to defense, evading while he waited for Sage-King of the Grand Abyss to reveal an opening.

Yet, in the span of a few breaths, after exchanging over a thousand blows, Sage-King of the Grand Abyss laughed and said, "With your current foundation, you are still far from being a match for this lord's soul fragment."

"If you cannot find a decisive moment, you will not last much longer."

"Is that so?"

In that very instant, Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened with intense focus.

He abruptly changed his tactics, charging directly at Sage-King of the Grand Abyss in an attempt to trade wounds with his foe.

"Futile. You cannot harm me."

The soul fragment of Sage-King of the Grand Abyss gave a faint smile. The illusory longsword in his hand shattered the space around Lucian, unleashing a barrage of peerless sword-energies to cleave down upon Eldrin Chen.

Yet, in that same moment, Eldrin Chen allowed a slight smile to touch his lips. Instantly, an ancient, ethereal pearl flew from above his head, erupting with overwhelming divine power that suppressed the entire expanse of void.

Under the crushing weight of this spatial force, the very heavens and earth fell into a state of profound sluggishness, actually slowing the movements of Sage-King of the Grand Abyss's soul fragment.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"

Almost in the same instant, one after another, Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Sword shot through the air, transforming into the Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword Formation of Heavenly Stars and Earthly Fiends to seal off the mountain peak.

Seeing this, Sage-King of the Grand Abyss clasped his hands together with a smile. "Using a spatial Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact of great power] in concert with a sword formation to restrict this lord's movements is indeed a clever tactic."

"You flatter me, Senior."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile, charging forward with all his might to engage in close-quarters combat. "The essence of combat methodology is simply to leverage one's own strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses, thereby securing victory."

"Your strength, Senior, lies in your combat experience and innate talent, which far surpass the limits of this realm. My strength lies in my cultivation foundation and depth of power, which greatly exceed that of this soul fragment of yours."

"If I were to allow you, Senior, to freely deploy your combat experience, I would be pitting my weakness against your strength—a most unwise strategy."

"Only by restricting your room to maneuver, forcing you into a direct clash of power with me, can I properly utilize my own advantages."

As his words faded, Eldrin Chen pressed his assault with even greater ferocity. Coordinating his Primordial Chaos Qi [a divine ability harnessing the primordial, formless energy of creation] with the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Sword Formation, he relentlessly compressed the space available to Sage-King of the Grand Abyss, forcing the ancient sage to meet him blow for blow in a contest of raw power.

After more than three thousand exchanges in this manner, Eldrin Chen finally began to gain the upper hand, driving the soul fragment of Sage-King of the Grand Abyss into a steady retreat.

In the path of cultivation, the foundation and combat prowess are paramount. While battle techniques can greatly enhance one's fighting strength, they ultimately have their limits.

At this moment, unable to fully leverage his superior vision and experience, the Sage-King of the Grand Abyss's soul fragment was ultimately no match for Eldrin Chen's dual True Spirit Foundation. In the end, Eldrin Chen cornered him using the Grasping Hand of Primordial Chaos.

"Impressive!"

After the defeat, that True Spirit soul fragment finally began to disintegrate.

With a faint smile, he spoke, "You are the first junior in one thousand Kalpa Tribulation cycles to defeat me in a direct confrontation. It seems that after this Kalpa Tribulation, our Human Race will welcome another True Seed of an Immortal Sage."

"I bid you farewell, Senior."

Eldrin Chen bowed respectfully, watching as the Sage-King of the Grand Abyss's soul fragment dissolved into motes of flowing light.

When all had vanished, the Sage-King of the Grand Abyss's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] completely disintegrated. Only a single True Spirit Imprint returned to the Soul-Extinction Ancient Land, sinking into deep slumber to await the next opportunity for its emergence.

And in its place, a wisp of True Spirit Origin [the primordial essence of a True Spirit], brimming with an aura of eternity, remained.

"True Spirit Origin."

Eldrin Chen murmured, a flicker of joy coloring his expression.

He took the True Spirit Origin and examined it carefully for a moment, then voiced his confusion: "This is indeed a True Spirit Origin [the primordial source of a True Spirit's power], yet it does not contain a True Spirit Imprint [the indelible mark of a True Spirit's nature]. It holds only the faintest, most diluted wisp of True Spirit [a supreme spiritual entity] aura."

"A True Spirit aura?"

Lyra Jiang stepped closer, her tone laced with inquiry.

Eldrin Chen nodded and began to explain. "A genuine True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the ultimate spiritual core of a True Spirit cultivator] should have completely fused with its True Spirit Imprint, transforming into a supremely noble violet-gold hue."

"Yet this soul fragment left by Senior Sage-King of the Grand Abyss manifests as black-gold. The True Spirit Imprint within it is exceedingly sparse. It should be classified as an incompletely ascended True Spirit Primordial Spirit."

"Thus, it possesses the forbidden might and power of a True Spirit Primordial Spirit, yet lacks that realm's signature characteristic of eternal indestructibility. Or perhaps, only a minuscule portion of this True Spirit Primordial Spirit holds that undying quality."

Eldrin Chen elaborated patiently, informing Lyra Jiang that the True Spirit Imprint contained within this soul fragment of the Sage-King of the Grand Abyss was vanishingly small. To put it in human terms, the amount of True Spirit Imprint present would be comparable to a single strand of hair.

Even that, however, was astonishing. For a True Spirit Imprint the size of a hair's breadth was sufficient to render that infinitesimal sliver of True Spirit Divine Soul [the divine soul essence of a True Spirit] indestructible.

At that point, even if the entire Primordial Spirit [the foundational spiritual core of a cultivator] were utterly annihilated, this hair-thin remnant of divine soul could gradually revive, eventually restoring the complete True Spirit Primordial Spirit.

Lyra Jiang [the Immortal Maiden Lyra] heard this and nodded in agreement. "After all, this is merely a minuscule wisp of a split soul, hardly worthy of Sage-King of the Grand Abyss [the Sage-King of the Grand Abyss] diverting any significant portion of his power. It is only to be expected that it contains but this meager True Spirit Imprint [a spiritual imprint containing the essence of a True Spirit]."

Eldrin Chen [Eldrin Chen] gave a slight nod and handed the True Spirit Origin [the purified origin essence of a True Spirit] to Lyra Jiang. "Though this True Spirit Origin lacks a True Spirit Imprint, it still contains a certain power of the True Spirit [the highest, most primordial state of a cultivator's spirit]."

"If you can refine and absorb it, you might attempt to break through to the True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the realm of a Primordial Spirit forged from the essence of a True Spirit]."

Lyra Jiang nodded once more, then spoke again. "Relying on this object alone, the difficulty of cultivating a True Spirit Primordial Spirit remains exceedingly high."

To this, Eldrin Chen also nodded in agreement. No one understood the sheer difficulty of achieving a True Spirit Primordial Spirit better than he did.

Back when Eldrin Chen succeeded in forging his True Spirit Primordial Spirit, it was not only because he had mastered the Primordial Chaos Grade Divine Ability [a supreme-grade divine ability born from Primordial Chaos] known as Primordial Chaos Divine Thunder [Divine Thunder born from Primordial Chaos]. The more crucial factor was his cultivation of Primordial Chaos Qi [the foundational Qi energy of Primordial Chaos].

At that time, he used the Primordial Chaos Divine Thunder to shatter his own Indestructible Primordial Spirit [a Primordial Spirit renowned for its near-unbreakable resilience]. Then, harnessing the power of the Primordial Chaos Grinding Mill [a divine ability that grinds and refines with the force of Primordial Chaos], he pulverized the fragments of that Indestructible Primordial Spirit. Only through this process of destruction and rebirth, with a soul foundation purified to its utmost limit, did he ultimately forge his True Spirit Primordial Spirit.

Although Lyra Jiang has mastered the Primordial Chaos Grade Divine Ability 'Pure Yin Divine Thunder [Divine Thunder embodying the essence of Pure Yin]' and now possesses this portion of True Spirit Origin, it is still insufficient for her to cultivate a True Spirit Primordial Spirit.

Having her attempt to cultivate Primordial Chaos Qi now would be far too late. Moreover, the difficulty of mastering Primordial Chaos Qi surpasses even that of Primordial Chaos Divine Thunder. Even with Lyra Jiang's prodigious talent, achieving success would likely require hundreds of millions of years.

Fortunately, the Soul-Extinction Ancient Land [the Ancient Land of Soul Extinction] truly lives up to its reputation as a treasured ground for Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivation. The Soul-Extinction Wind [the Yin Wind of Soul Extinction] that pervades this place possesses the power to annihilate a Primordial Spirit.

Within the very eye of that tempest's core, the terrifying Soul-Extinction Wind [a soul-scouring gale of legendary potency] was a hundredfold more powerful, potent enough to grind away even an Indestructible Primordial Spirit [a spirit cultivated to a state of near-absolute resilience]. It was a sacred ground specifically refined by Sage-King of the Grand Abyss for cultivating the True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the pinnacle state of spiritual essence].

In truth, those within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains who achieved the True Spirit Foundation [the foundational stage of the True Spirit realm] had almost all relied on similar cultivation sanctums. Coupled with legacies of Dao Progenitor caliber and supreme treasures akin to the True Spirit Origin [the primordial source essence of True Spirit energy], they ultimately succeeded in their cultivation.

For one like Eldrin Chen to succeed with scarcely any external aids—relying solely on the Primordial Chaos Divine Thunder and Primordial Chaos Qi [the primordial breath of chaos], supplemented only by some Primordial Soul-Nourishing Wood—was virtually unheard of in all of history.

With this in mind, Eldrin Chen first descended the mountain with Lyra Jiang. Finding Umbralia and the others, he instructed them, "The two of us plan to remain on the mountain to cultivate. We would trouble you to guard our seclusion here at the base during this time."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen first took out the greater portion of his Indestructible Soul Water [a mystical water that fortifies the soul] and distributed it among the group.

He then produced a batch of Soul-Nourishing Wood [a rare wood that replenishes spiritual energy], gifting several stalks to each person before continuing, "The Soul-Extinction Wind can injure both flesh and Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator]. Guarding this place will place a tremendous strain on your Primordial Spirit. Use this Soul-Nourishing Wood to aid in your recovery."

Hearing this, the group felt a flicker of joy. With this allotment of Indestructible Soul Water and this batch of Soul-Nourishing Wood, they might be able to leverage the Soul-Extinction Wind to elevate their soul power by one or two entire grades.

After distributing these treasures, Eldrin Chen still had ten portions of Indestructible Soul Water remaining. He handed them all to Nyssa Qu, saying, "You are preparing to assail the Indestructible Primordial Spirit. Take this Indestructible Soul Water for your cultivation first. If any remains afterward, bring it back to the clan to serve as part of our foundational reserves."

Nyssa Qu nodded in acknowledgment and replied, "Focus on your cultivation with peace of mind. Leave everything here to us."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of assent. He then laid down a Grand Heavenly Cycle Supreme Metal Bamboo Sword Formation [a formidable sword array formation] at the mountain's foot, entrusting its control to the group, before returning to the solitary peak's summit.

After the two arrived at the mountain peak, Eldrin Chen immediately stepped into the eye of the Soul-Extinction Wind to cultivate.

The moment he stepped into the eye of the soul-extinguishing tempest, he felt a torrential surge of the Soul-Extinction Wind assail him. It ceaselessly buffeted his physical body and his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], exerting a pressure he could not ignore.

Lyra Jiang followed a step behind. Upon entering, her complexion instantly paled, and an expression of intense agony crossed her features.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen quickly spoke, "Take the True Spirit Origin now. This substance can continuously restore the power of your Primordial Spirit."

Lyra Jiang complied. Immediately, she felt the strain on her Primordial Spirit, which had seemed unbearable moments before, ease considerably. She let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Eldrin Chen observed her recovery and directly retrieved several hundred pieces of Primordial Soul-Nourishing Wood. Handing them all to Lyra Jiang, he instructed, "Refine these completely into your soul. They are life-sustaining treasures for the spirit."

"Remember, if you truly cannot endure, you must leave the eye of the storm immediately."

Clenching her silver teeth, Lyra Jiang replied, "I will not fail. My Primordial Spirit has been tempered day and night by the Great Five Elements Pure Yin Divine Thunder and has long reached the limits of an Indestructible Primordial Spirit. It will not be extinguished here so easily."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod. After sensing the power of the Soul-Extinction Wind for a moment, he finally spoke, "The physical body is typically more resilient than the spirit, and my Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body is nearly immortal and imperishable."

"Given the intensity of the Soul-Extinction Wind here, it would likely take one hundred thousand years for me to fully complete that final step. If you emerge from seclusion before I do, simply stand guard for me."

Having spoken thus far, neither of them said anything more and immediately began their secluded cultivation.

At this moment, Eldrin Chen continuously harnessed the power of the Soul-Extinction Wind to temper the imperfections within his Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body.

His Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique had already devoured five strands of Supreme-Grade Chaotic Nest Origin and been tempered by both Thunder and frost. It had long since been cultivated to the absolute limit of the Indestructible Body.

Now, under the relentless buffeting of the Soul-Extinction Wind, it finally began to show the faintest signs of transformation.

Alas, the Innate Primordial Indestructible Physique was far too potent. Even the Soul-Extinction Wind could not induce rapid change, only gradually altering it over the vast expanse of time.

Throughout this process, Eldrin Chen continuously absorbed the origin essence of the Soul-Extinction Wind, slowly replenishing the foundational source of that tripartite anomalous power.

Thus time flowed swiftly by. After a mere few tens of thousands of years, when fifty thousand years had passed, Eldrin Chen had still not achieved a breakthrough in his cultivation. However, Lyra Jiang by his side finally completed her metamorphosis.

A beam of dazzling, peerless radiance pierced through the boundless Sea of the Great Dao, reaching all the way to that Eternal True Spirit.

Aided by the True Spirit Origin, the unique properties of this forbidden land, and the Pure Yin Divine Thunder, Lyra Jiang finally shattered her limits and attained enlightenment of the Eternal True Spirit's existence.

In that moment, Lyra Jiang continuously drew upon the True Spirit Imprint. An endless stream of True Spirit Imprint poured into her Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], ultimately reshaping it into a True Spirit Primordial Spirit.

Simultaneously, within the Primordial Immortal Domain [the legendary realm of the most ancient and powerful immortals].

High above in the boundless void of the heavens, seven supreme beings of the Chaos [the primordial state of existence before creation] level were startled from their secluded cultivation.

Within the Primordial Divine Court [the celestial court of the most ancient gods], inside a long-sealed great hall, Purple Tenuity Divine Emperor opened his eyes. With a hint of pleasant surprise, he looked at Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor and said, "It is her aura. As you foresaw, elder brother, she is to return within this one or two Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration, often ending in cataclysm]."

Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor wore a faint smile. He performed a brief divination with his fingers, then remarked with some astonishment, "Strange. I cannot divine her reincarnated form. It seems Fellow Daoist of the Lunar Yin has encountered a different Opportunity [a rare chance or circumstance crucial for advancement in cultivation]."

Purple Tenuity Divine Emperor nodded in agreement, yet his tone carried a note of regret. "The Grand Yin [the supreme principle of passive, receptive, and lunar energy] already has its master, and she has lost her authority over the stars. Even upon her return, attaining the Dao will be exceedingly difficult, unless she can find an Opportunity potent enough to defy fate itself."

Speaking of this, Purple Tenuity Divine Emperor could not help but sigh with emotion.

An Opportunity capable of allowing one to prove their Dao and ascend to the realm of a Divine Emperor or Celestial Emperor—how supremely precious and rare must such a thing be?

The Chaos Primordial Qi [the primordial breath of Chaos, a substance of ultimate power capable of reshaping destiny] is a treasure that defies the heavens. One dare not claim its existence is impossible within the Chaos at large, but at least within the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss south of the Primordial Chaos Abyss, such an Opportunity might not appear once in a hundred thousand Kalpa Tribulation.

And the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss are comprised of seven Origin Domain [a foundational, primordial world], home to figures numbering over twenty Chaos Celestial Emperor.

Should a single wisp of Chaos Primordial Qi appear, it would inevitably provoke a scramble among a host of Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage [beings who have reached the pinnacle of cultivation, ancestors of the Dao and sages among immortals]. Unless one could seize it from a position of immediate advantage, or unless a rare Opportunity akin to the shattering of an Immortal Cosmos Origin Domain occurred, not even Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor could guarantee he would obtain it.

Contemplating this, Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor spoke, "After all, she was a fellow Daoist of old. Now, having reincarnated to cultivate anew and lost her foundation as a Half-Step Divine Emperor, her path must be fraught with hardship."

"If we can locate her reincarnated self, we can arrange for someone to offer her some care."

Elsewhere, Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor and Sage-King of the Grand Abyss opened their eyes, revealing a flicker of astonishment.

The Sage-King of the Grand Abyss smiled faintly, then said thoughtfully, "So she has returned. It seems the one from the Demon Race will have trouble on their hands once more. Speaking of which, despite all his schemes back then, that individual from the Demon Race ultimately achieved nothing."

"In those days, the Solar Celestial Emperor sought to seize the Dao of Grand Yin [the supreme principle of darkness, passivity, and the moon], wishing to simultaneously cultivate the paths of both Grand Yin and Grand Yang [the supreme principle of light, activity, and the sun], and then merge them with the Dao of the Stars to prove the second step of the Chaos realm—'Dao Union.' Yet, in the end, he underestimated Fellow Daoist of the Lunar Yin."

"He never imagined that Fellow Daoist of the Lunar Yin would rather let that Lunar Demon Sovereign attain the Dao than allow him to fulfill his ambition."

"Among the myriad Daos of this world, Yin and Yang reign supreme. Had Grand Yin and Grand Yang merged, allowing him to take that step, we would all be living under his shadow today."

Hearing this, Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor could only shake his head in silence.

Seeing this, the Sage-King of the Grand Abyss continued, "Fellow Daoist of the Lunar Yin possesses peerless talent. Even having lost her past-life foundation, once she recovers her memories, reaching the ninth level of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm should pose little difficulty. However, without that crucial Chaos Primordial Qi [the primordial breath of chaos, the foundational energy from which all creation emerged], it will be exceedingly difficult for her to seek vengeance against Fellow Daoist Grand Yang."

At this point, he sighed once more. "Chaos Primordial Qi... Since the shattering of the Immortal Cosmos Origin Domain, such a divine substance has not appeared within the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss for tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle in Buddhist cosmology, often billions of years]."

Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor [the progenitor of all existence, the source of the primordial Dao] did not answer upon hearing this. Instead, he spoke thoughtfully, "The causes of yesterday bear the fruits of today. Every sip and every peck is ordained by the Mandate of Heaven [the cosmic will that governs fate and destiny]."

"Perhaps the great game of old has not yet concluded."

"Not concluded?" Sage-King of the Grand Abyss [a title for a supremely powerful sage who rules over the primordial depths] was momentarily stunned. He couldn't help but glance at Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor and ask, "Elder Brother, do you perhaps know something of this?"

Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor shook his head, offering no answer. He merely smiled faintly, an enigmatic expression on his face, and said, "It cannot be spoken, it cannot be spoken!"

"Grand Yin [the supreme principle of darkness, cold, and passivity, counterpart to Grand Yang]!"

At the same moment, upon the Demonic Celestial Court [the celestial palace and seat of power for demonic immortals], a voice as cold as ice rang out.

Solar Celestial Emperor [the supreme ruler of the sun and the celestial realm of light] opened his eyes. A flicker of icy malevolence passed through his pupils—a mix of domineering authority and a trace of deep-seated resentment—yet it was suppressed in an instant.

"Let it be. Even if he has returned, he holds no hope of mastering the Great Dao [the fundamental truth and principle of all existence]. Unable to set foot in the realm of Chaos [the primordial, undifferentiated state before creation, the highest realm of cultivation], he can no longer be considered a true threat."