Chapter 1896 : Forging the Innate Spiritual Treasure

"No two leaves in the world are identical, and the path each person must walk is different, as are the methods to reach the destination."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, then his tone shifted as he finally spoke: "But I believe, as long as one understands their own strengths and creates the Dao [the fundamental principle or path in Chinese philosophy] and methods most suited to themselves, then achieving the True Spirit Foundation [a profound and stable cultivation base] should not be difficult?"

"Not difficult?"

Jiang the Sovereign Emperor was momentarily taken aback, then said with a bitter smile, "Not everyone possesses talent such as yours."

Eldrin Chen nodded slightly and continued, "If one's internal strength is insufficient, supplement it with external force. If you cultivate both internally and refine yourself externally, perhaps you can increase your chances."

"Internal cultivation and external refinement?"

Jiang the Sovereign Emperor furrowed his brow slightly, falling into deep contemplation.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen offered further guidance: "Grandfather, do you know what your greatest advantage is?"

"Advantage?" Daoxu Jiang pondered for a moment before cautiously replying, "The Primordial Beginning Qi Scripture [a legendary cultivation manual of immense power]."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen nodded and then spoke, "With the Primordial Beginning Qi Scripture, one Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration and profound change] can accumulate over ten strands of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a primal, unbreakable radiance of spiritual essence]. Merely a few Kalpa Tribulation cycles would suffice to forge a complete set of Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the primal chaos of creation, possessing immense power]."

"A complete set of Innate Spiritual Treasure?"

Daoxu Jiang's face lit up with delight, but he soon shook his head with a bitter smile. "Although formation treasures are formidable, my talent in this path is merely superior, not comparable to yours or Lyra's. At most, I could master a dozen or so Innate Spiritual Treasure."

"Moreover, my true expertise lies in the Sword Dao [the profound path and principles of the sword]."

Eldrin Chen simply smiled, pouring Daoxu Jiang a cup of tea. "Grandfather," he began, "have you ever considered cultivating a Innate Spiritual Treasure sword formation using swords forged from innate Great Luo Golden Bamboo [a legendary bamboo of supreme spiritual quality]?"

"Boom—"

In that instant, Daoxu Jiang's expression shifted dramatically, a tremor of profound realization passing through him before being replaced by a flash of ecstatic insight.

Of course! The Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Sword Formation [a supreme sword formation of unparalleled synergy] was among the most exalted of peerless sword arrays. With merely one hundred and eight top-grade Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Sword, it could rival, even slightly surpass, a single Innate Spiritual Treasure.

If he were to use Great Luo Golden Bamboo of Innate Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of the highest innate grade] caliber to forge one hundred and eight swords for a Great Luo Golden Bamboo Sword Formation, it would undoubtedly be enough to sweep away all opposition beneath the Grand Luo [a supreme realm of cultivation] realm.

No, he wouldn't need one hundred and eight. Thirty-six swords would be sufficient to suppress even a True Spirit Foundation [a profound cultivation realm where one's spiritual foundation becomes truly solidified] expert.

At this thought, Daoxu Jiang drew a deep breath and said, "It seems I must lie low for a few more Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles], awaiting the day the sword formation reaches its pinnacle."

Eldrin Chen gave a faint nod and spoke calmly, "I have already divined that if one uses one hundred and eight Great Luo Golden Bamboo Sword Formation to shatter the Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Pass [a critical bottleneck in refining spiritual treasures], it will surely stir the True Spirit Imprint [the innate spiritual blueprint within a treasure] and cause its metamorphosis into a True Spirit Sword Formation."

"When that time comes, by using the sword dao insights from the True Spirit Sword Formation's Formation [array] principles to comprehend the sword path, you may perhaps cultivate your Void Sword Dao to the True Spirit Foundation [the foundational realm of a True Spirit treasure]."

"As for whether you can advance further, that will depend on your destiny and Opportunity [a fortuitous encounter or chance]."

Hearing this, Daoxu Jiang could not help but take another deep breath.

He smiled, then sighed with emotion, "After your breakthrough into the Grand Luo [a supreme cultivation realm], your vision and perspective are truly beyond what they once were."

"However, Great Luo Golden Bamboo is exceedingly rare, and specimens sharing the same origin are even fewer. One hundred and eight stalks of Great Luo Golden Bamboo from the same source—I fear not even the Three Great Celestial Courts could produce such a quantity. Can you truly cultivate them?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen fell into contemplation. The Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase could not break through the Grand Luo bottleneck. The key to Ascension [evolving or elevating] the Great Luo Golden Bamboo lay in whether the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase could advance to a higher grade.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Even after breaking through to the Great Luo Realm, the Yin-Yang Primordial Qi Vase will remain the foremost auxiliary treasure among all I possess."

"As long as I can condense Primordial Chaos Origin Qi [the primordial energy of chaos, the source of all creation], then within the next few Kalpa Tribulation, I shall nurture it into a supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos of heaven and earth]."

Upon hearing this, Daoxu Jiang breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he possessed the Great Luo Golden Bamboo [a legendary bamboo of supreme spiritual quality] which shared a fundamental origin with him, the Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a primordial and unbreakable radiance of pure spirit] was no longer a problem for him.

Thus, he rose to his feet, clasped his hands solemnly, and said, "Then this matter still relies on you."

"Between you and me, why stand on such ceremony?"

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and said nothing more.

Not long after, Daoxu Jiang departed in haste. Eldrin Chen then stepped into the newly opened Seventy-Two Heavens [a celestial domain comprised of seventy-two distinct paradises]. Using the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase [a mystical vase capable of nurturing primordial energies], he cultivated seventy-two Supreme-Grade Innate Ancient Tree [trees of the highest innate spiritual grade] and planted them separately within the newly opened Seventy-Two Heavens of the Abyssal Immortal Domain.

Having completed this step, he began to consolidate his cultivation base.

Upon entering his secluded cultivation chamber, Eldrin Chen immediately retrieved the Yin-Yang energies [the dual primordial forces of passive and active cosmic principles] obtained during the World Creation [the divine act of shaping a new world or reality]. He began cultivating his eighth Innate Divine Abilities [divine powers inherent to one's primordial nature].

This eighth Innate Divine Abilities, the 'Yin-Yang Sacrificial Dao' [the Dao of Sacrifice through Yin-Yang Fusion], was a Forbidden Divine Ability [a taboo technique of immense power and risk] he had created in the past, similar in nature to the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Art.

This divine ability was modeled after the Yin-Yang Union Vessel [a treasure that merges Yin and Yang forces], as well as techniques like the Soul-Burning Sacrificial Blade [a sacrificial strike that consumes the soul], the Nine Revolutions Disintegration Art, the Sacrificial Self Sword [a sword technique that sacrifices the self], and other Forbidden Divine Ability. Its most crucial catalyst was precisely the Yin-Yang energies produced during World Creation.

Now that Eldrin Chen possessed the Yin-Yang energies, he naturally prepared to cultivate this Yin-Yang Sacrificial Dao.

Several thousand years later, Eldrin Chen had successfully cultivated the Yin-Yang Sacrificial Dao [a supreme divine ability of sacrifice and creation], and had fully integrated the final portion of the True Spirit Imprint [the foundational spiritual essence of a True Spirit] into the True Spirit Aperture [a spiritual cavity within a cultivator's body that houses a True Spirit] where this divine ability resided.

After awakening this fifth True Spirit Aperture, Eldrin Chen immediately entered seclusion to consolidate his newly attained cultivation.

Time flowed on relentlessly. In the blink of an eye, over one hundred thousand years passed. As the tribulation energy [the calamitous force that heralds a great cosmic upheaval] within heaven and earth dissipated, this Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth] finally came to an end.

It was on this very day that Eldrin Chen awoke from his deep meditation, his eyes slowly opening.

"My cultivation base... is now fully consolidated."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly to himself. Only now did he begin to truly contemplate the depths of his own power.

The breakthrough to Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the supreme realm of a Golden Immortal, representing the pinnacle of cosmic law] had brought Eldrin Chen immeasurable gains. He had forged the complete Primordial Great Luo Body [a physique of primordial origin, perfectly attuned to the Great Luo Dao], mastered the Primordial Chaos Limitless Great Dao [the supreme cultivation art of boundless Primordial Chaos], and refined his Primordial Great Luo Divine Soul [a divine soul of primordial origin, harmonized with the Great Luo].

It could be said that the strength of the present Eldrin Chen was as different from his pre-breakthrough self as heaven is from earth.

Even across the boundless expanse of the Chaos [the formless, primordial state preceding creation], a mere glance from him, or the descent of a single wisp of his aura, would have been enough to annihilate his former self.

Such power, even among the ranks of Grand Luo Golden Immortal, was considered formidable indeed.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, among the five Dao Authority [supreme principles of the Great Dao that a cultivator masters] he had grasped, the power of any single one was formidable even among early-stage Grand Luo Golden Immortals [the pinnacle of immortal cultivation, transcending mortality].

Furthermore, the fusion of all five Dao Authorities to condense the Chaos Limitless Great Dao [the primordial, boundless Dao encompassing all chaos] was truly terrifying, granting power sufficient to contend with a Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal [an immortal at the middle stage of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm].

Yet this was not the most crucial aspect. What mattered more was that Eldrin Chen was no ordinary Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

For a typical Grand Luo Golden Immortal, ninety percent of their strength resided in their Dao Authority. Even for prodigies who had cultivated multiple Indestructible Foundations [foundational cultivation realms of unbreakable quality], their Dao Authority still constituted eighty percent of their power.

But Eldrin Chen was exceptional. Despite the immense power of his Dao Authority, it accounted for merely forty percent of his overall combat prowess.

This was because, beyond the True Spirit Great Dao [the supreme Dao path of the True Spirit], Eldrin Chen had also perfected six True Spirit Foundations [the foundational cultivation realms of the True Spirit path]: his physical body, his mana, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], his Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation and enlightenment], his divine abilities, and his Spiritual Treasures [enchanted artifacts of immense power].

Moreover, both his Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body [a physique born of primordial chaos, unbreakable and eternal] and his True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the Primordial Spirit cultivated to the True Spirit realm] had each fused with five strands of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a primordial, unbreakable radiance of spiritual energy], transforming them into complete Great Luo Foundations [foundations worthy of the Grand Luo realm].

His physical body and Primordial Spirit were already immensely powerful to begin with. After this metamorphosis, their strength became extraordinary. Combined, their power could fully rival the Dao Authority force of an early-stage Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

The most critical factor, however, was that the five True Spirit Divine Runes [divine symbols of the True Spirit path] of his True Spirit Physique [a physique aligned with the True Spirit path], and the five True Spirit Apertures [spiritual gateways of the True Spirit] within his True Spirit Primordial Spirit, each amplified the power of his body and Primordial Spirit approximately threefold.

Consequently, Eldrin Chen's power, derived solely from his physical body and Primordial Spirit, was already sufficient to rival a Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal.

It could be said that Eldrin Chen had simultaneously walked the three paths of Sainthood through the Flesh [a cultivation path focused on tempering the physical body to saintly levels], Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment [the state of achieving enlightenment through the Primordial Spirit], and Dao Authority [the authority and power derived from comprehending a Great Dao].

Among these, the power of Dao Authority was the strongest, roughly comparable to the fourth level of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm]. The power from Sainthood through the Flesh and Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment had also half-stepped into the Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal [the mid-stage of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm].

With all these foundations—his physical body, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], his Great Dao, and so forth—combined, Eldrin Chen's overall strength had likely reached the level of a sixth-level Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

On this foundation, if he were to unleash the Abyssal Seal [a powerful seal artifact], whose power rivaled that of a Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [the highest grade of treasures born from heaven and earth], Eldrin Chen's combat prowess would rank among the very top even within the ranks of Mid Great Luo Golden Immortals.

"Top-tier combat strength among Mid Great Luo Golden Immortals."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly to himself, a flicker of joy inevitably surfacing in the depths of his eyes.

To possess top-tier Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal combat power immediately upon entering the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm—this level of strength was by no means weak among Grand Luo Golden Immortals.

The former Sword Abyss Immortal Lord, even after several hundred Kalpa Tribulations [cosmic cycles of destruction and rebirth] following his breakthrough to Grand Luo Golden Immortal, likely possessed strength only at the level Eldrin Chen now held.

"If I were to truly fight with my life on the line, my power would be even greater than this."

Eldrin Chen whispered, sensing his True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a Primordial Spirit refined to its truest, most potent essence] and his True Spirit Physique [a physical constitution harmonized with the True Spirit], a faint smile gracing his lips.

Over these years, the five Bloodline Divine Ability within Eldrin Chen's True Spirit Physique have undergone a complete metamorphosis, transforming into full-fledged True Spirit Divine Runes.

These five True Spirit Divine Runes have coalesced into a single, cyclical sigil. When fully Eruption is unleashed, it can multiply the offensive power of Eldrin Chen's physical body severalfold.

This means that, even disregarding all other foundational aspects of his cultivation and considering only his innate talent for Sainthood through the Flesh, Eldrin Chen already possesses combat power equivalent to a Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal wielding their Dao Authority [the authority and power derived from one's comprehension of the Dao].

In truth, such talent and strength are nothing short of astonishing.

Consider this: even 'Tianxing', the son of the Chaos Celestial Emperor, only managed to cultivate two True Spirit Divine Runes. With such a foundation, once he steps into the realm of Grand Luo Golden Immortal and receives the baptism of Dao Origin [the primordial source of the Dao], he would be considered a formidable figure even among early-stage Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

Yet, Eldrin Chen possesses five True Spirit Divine Runes. It is only to be expected that upon first entering the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, his physical body alone could contend with a Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Beyond his physical form, Eldrin Chen's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] is also extraordinary.

Eldrin Chen's fifth True Spirit Divine Ability is named Yin-Yang Sacrificial Dao. This ability has three stages. The first stage consumes the dual energies of Yin-Yang [the complementary cosmic forces of passive/dark and active/light] to temporarily double Eldrin Chen's overall combat prowess.

Once activated, Eldrin Chen would gain the power to engage in battle with a seventh-layer Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

The second stage carries an immense cost, requiring an entire Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle] to accumulate the power for a single activation. However, it can elevate Eldrin Chen's strength to a level capable of severely wounding a Late Great Luo Golden Immortal.

The third stage requires the sacrifice of one's Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path] and entire foundation. Once activated, Eldrin Chen would possess the power to slay a Late Great Luo Golden Immortal [a cultivator at the late stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm].

Of course, to actually slay a Late Great Luo Golden Immortal, one would still need to find the perfect moment for a single, fatal strike; otherwise, it is far more likely the opponent would simply escape.

Furthermore, the price for unleashing such a divine ability is utterly terrifying. Even with Eldrin Chen having cultivated a True Spirit Foundation [a supremely stable and potent spiritual foundation], he would only retain a wisp of his remnant soul, requiring over a hundred Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of immense duration] to achieve Restoration [a complete recovery of one's spiritual and physical form].

Unless truly faced with an utterly unstoppable foe, Eldrin Chen would never activate the third stage of the Yin-Yang Sacrificial Dao [the Dao of Yin-Yang Sacrifice].

"To grant a first-realm Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a cultivator at the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm] the strength to severely wound, or even slay, a Late Great Luo Golden Immortal..."

"This Forbidden Divine Ability [a divine ability of immense power with catastrophic backlash] is truly fearsome. No wonder it is said that nearly all cultivators at the mid-to-late stages of Grand Luo Golden Immortal cultivate one as their ultimate trump card."

Sensing the formidable power of the Yin-Yang Sacrificial Dao, Eldrin Chen could not help but shake his head slowly, a trace of profound awe coloring his expression.

Eldrin Chen understood all too well that the higher one's cultivation realm, the vaster the gulf between each minor stage. Without a Forbidden Divine Ability, even ten early-realm Grand Luo Golden Immortal joining forces would stand no chance against a single Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal [a cultivator at the mid-stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm].

Yet, with a Forbidden Divine Ability in hand, even a Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal attempting to deal with an early-realm Grand Luo Golden Immortal would face the perilous risk of catastrophic defeat.

"In my normal state, I possess the combat power of a Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal. By unleashing my Forbidden Divine Ability, I can contend with a Late Great Luo Golden Immortal."

Upon first entering the Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of cultivation, representing a perfected golden immortal state] realm, Eldrin Chen continuously assessed his own strength, seeking to determine precisely where he stood within the food chain of this exalted realm.

After a long while, having gained a measure of confidence, he finally concluded with careful deliberation, "With my current power, establishing a foothold in the Chaos [the primordial, formless void from which all creation emerged] should be sufficient. However, complacency remains a luxury I cannot afford."

"In future confrontations with formidable foes, I may reveal the Primordial Boundless Great Dao [the supreme cultivation art of limitless primordial origin], but the true extent of my physical body's might and soul path's combat prowess should remain concealed for now."

With his strategy settled, Eldrin Chen strode directly out of his secluded meditation chamber.

Once outside, he cast his gaze across the vast heavens and earth. The pervasive aura of calamity had vanished; this Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal, a great cataclysm ordained by fate] had now drawn to its definitive close.

"Roar—"

At that very moment, a draconic roar echoed from within the Chaos.

There, cleaving through the boundless Chaos, a Primordial Azure Dragon [an ancient and mighty dragon of primordial origin, symbol of the east and wood element] pierced the firmament, manifesting just beyond the borders of the Abyssal Immortal Domain [Eldrin Chen's immortal dominion, a realm born from the primordial abyss].

This was a Primordial Azure Dragon at the Grand Luo Golden Immortal level. Its mere appearance churned the void into tumultuous waves, triggering a cataclysmic tsunami within the Chaos.

"Screech—"

In that fleeting instant, the Phoenix of Departure [a mythical bird of fire and rebirth] was startled into action. It manifested its true form, roaring as it soared into the sky, its intent to battle the Primordial Azure Dragon [the ancient progenitor of all azure dragons] clear and fierce.

"Huang'er, stand down!"

Just then, a voice interrupted her.

Behold, Eldrin Chen appeared, his robes white as driven snow. He seemed a Peerless Immortal Lord [an Immortal Lord without equal] treading upon the void as he arrived, his presence quelling the Phoenix of Departure's battle fervor.

"My congratulations, Fellow Daoist."

"For you to achieve the Grand Luo [the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, a pinnacle of immortal cultivation] in this place is truly a joyous occasion for our Human Race."

At that very moment, within the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation], a faint light shimmered.

Upon the head of the Azure Dragon [a majestic dragon embodying the essence of the east and wood], a handsome man clad in azure robes appeared. He smiled and cupped his hands in salute towards Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen felt a flicker of surprise between his brows. This man's aura was exceptionally powerful, seemingly that of a Peerless Immortal Lord at the Late Great Luo Golden Immortal [the advanced stage of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm]. Not daring to be negligent, Eldrin promptly returned the salute and inquired.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist. May I ask who you are?"

"My Daoist title is Donghua, and I have been honored by the Immortal Court [the supreme governing body of the Human Race] with the title of Eastern Pole Verdant Radiance Immortal Lord."

Eldrin Chen was slightly taken aback, instantly recalling the origins of this figure.

The so-called Eastern Pole Verdant Radiance Immortal Lord was a peerless genius of the Human Race from the eastern reaches of the Three Thousand Immortal Domains. He had attained the Dao three hundred Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles] ago and was once a legendary prodigy who had cultivated several Indestructible Foundation [an exceptionally stable and powerful foundational cultivation stage].

It was said that Donghua, the Immortal Lord [a high-ranking immortal], possessed unfathomable cultivation, having long since reached the realm of a Late Great Luo Golden Immortal. No wonder he was capable of subduing a Primordial Azure Dragon of Grand Luo Golden Immortal caliber.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen promptly inquired, "So it is Fellow Daoist Donghua. May I ask what brings you here today?"

Donghua, the Immortal Lord, offered a faint smile and replied, "My Donghua Immortal Domain lies not far from your own Immortal Domain [a realm governed by an immortal]. I came today primarily to pay my respects."

"Furthermore, I am here at the behest of the Immortal Court to extend an invitation for you to join its ranks."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen was momentarily surprised but quickly grasped the implication.

As the central power of the Human Race, the Immortal Court held every Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a pinnacle immortal realm] of their race in the highest regard.

Since ancient times, any Human Race cultivator capable of breaking through to the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm has invariably received an invitation from the Human Race's Immortal Court [the supreme governing body of celestial immortals].

Furthermore, those who attain the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, even if unwilling to take an active post within the Immortal Court, will mostly accept a nominal position. After all, it represents the very core of Human Race power and authority.

Moreover, the Immortal Court possesses many unique resources, such as the Indestructible Immortal Pool [a sacred pool that can transform beings into immortal soldiers and generals], slots for expeditions to the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent [a legendary, perilous continent filled with ancient ruins], and so forth.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile. "Since the Immortal Court extends its invitation," he said, "I naturally have no reason to decline."

Donghua, the Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal], nodded in approval. With a warm smile, he continued, "In due time, the Immortal Court will host a Great Luo Immortal Banquet [a grand celestial feast celebrating the ascension of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal] in your honor. I wished to inform you of this beforehand."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with a trace of surprise.

Noting his reaction, Donghua, the Immortal Lord, spoke again. "Do not overthink it. The birth of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal is not merely your personal affair; it is a momentous occasion for our entire Human Race."

As Donghua, the Immortal Lord, explained further, Eldrin Chen quickly came to understand.

It turned out that whenever a Human Race cultivator ascended to the Grand Luo realm and expressed willingness to join the Immortal Court, the Court itself would sponsor and organize a Great Luo Immortal Banquet in their name.

For such an event, all the major ancient sects of our Human Race, along with the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races [a collective term for numerous powerful, immortal-aligned non-human races], would send a great many Grand Luo Golden Immortal to attend the celebration.

It can be said that a banquet of this magnitude generally would not occur even once in a Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle in Buddhist cosmology, often billions of years], and sometimes the Human Race might not produce a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the highest realm of immortal cultivation, representing supreme power and enlightenment] for several consecutive Kalpa Tribulation.

In truth, a gathering of such scale is exceedingly rare across the entire Three Thousand Immortal Domains. Even when combining the Three Great Celestial Courts and the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races, there are on average only one or two banquets of this level per Kalpa Tribulation.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen fell into a pensive silence.

He had originally intended for his Great Luo Immortal Banquet to follow the usual practice of simplicity, inviting only those closely connected to him. He never anticipated that the Human Race's Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of the human immortals] would host a feast in his honor.

Yet, upon deeper reflection, a figure of the Grand Luo Immortal Lord [a supreme immortal lord who has transcended the Grand Luo realm] caliber has already broken free from the shackles of reincarnation and fate. Such an entity is considered a formidable power even within the boundless Chaos [the primordial, formless state from which all existence emerged].

For a powerhouse of this rank, there is no longer a need for a low profile. Beings of this stature are far too rare, appearing perhaps once or twice in a Kalpa Tribulation. Excessive modesty would, paradoxically, make one stand out even more conspicuously.

Having reached this conclusion, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. He first invited his guest into the Abyssal Immortal Domain for hospitality before replying, "My thanks, Fellow Daoist. I am now aware of the matter."

"Then let us set a date."

Donghua, the Immortal Lord, offered a faint smile and began conversing with Eldrin Chen.

In the end, they settled on a time for the Great Luo Immortal Banquet: one hundred thousand years hence.

As for the scale of the Immortal Banquet and the expenditure of the rare treasures, the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body] would be responsible for covering the costs. The invitations would also be dispatched by the Immortal Court, though Eldrin Chen could also personally send invitations to some of his close friends.

With just a cursory glance, Eldrin Chen felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. The number of Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born of primordial chaos, of the highest grade] grade rarities required for the banquet alone numbered in the thousands, not to mention the myriad other precious items.

One could say that the resources consumed by a single Great Luo Immortal Banquet [a grand feast held in honor of a newly ascended Grand Luo Immortal] would be enough to bankrupt many a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of immortality, a sovereign of the Dao] if they had to foot the bill themselves.

However, after reviewing the guest list, Eldrin Chen began to understand. Those invited by the Immortal Domain [the collective realms of the immortals] were almost exclusively figures at the Grand Luo Golden Immortal level.

Furthermore, even a Grand Luo Golden Immortal could only bring three companions to the event. Unless Eldrin Chen issued a personal invitation, even an Ancient Immortal Ancestor [an immortal who has existed since ancient times, a venerable elder] would not be qualified to receive an invitation.

"The Immortal Court is expending a considerable fortune to host this banquet in my honor,"

Eldrin Chen remarked with a soft sigh after confirming the details of the list.

Donghua [a powerful Immortal Lord], the Immortal Lord [a high-ranking immortal official], shook his head, casually storing the list away before smiling. "In essence, this is also an opportunity for the Grand Luo Immortal Lord [a Grand Luo Golden Immortal who also holds an official title] of the Immortal Court to gather and exchange insights."

"There's usually no good pretext for such gatherings, so celebrating the ascension of a new Grand Luo [short for Grand Luo Golden Immortal] serves as the perfect occasion."

As he spoke, Donghua, the Immortal Lord, suddenly grew serious. "Since we share dominion over this region, I should brief you on the political landscape surrounding the 'Eastern Departure Flame Domain' [the Flaming Dominion of the Eastern Departure, a region of the immortal realms]."

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