Chapter 1898 : A Father's Final Journey

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his words trailing off into a heavy silence.

With his current level of cultivation, Eldrin deduced the entire chain of cause and effect in a single moment of contemplation.

It turned out that the reason Mordecai Lin had never revealed the truth of those past events was because he had already resolved not to live on alone.

Although Mordecai Lin was born into the Lin Immortal Clan, he had been sold into the Verdant Sun Sect at a tender age and held almost no affection for his birth clan.

On the contrary, having grown up within the Verdant Sun Sect, he harbored profound loyalty to it and had long been prepared to lay down his life for the sect's sake.

In that fateful battle, he clearly had a chance to survive. Yet, to secure a sliver of hope for the Verdant Sun Sect, he chose to face death head-on. His plan was to sacrifice himself in combat, intending to detonate the subterranean fire veins and grievously wound the many Purple Mansion cultivators among the allied forces.

"Though his cultivation was humble, he was a man worthy of respect."

Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh, offering no further words.

He withdrew his consciousness from the vision and followed his father's journey across one hundred thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of desolate wilderness, watching as the man delivered his younger self safely back to Verdant Chariot Mountain.

"My child!"

Beneath Verdant Chariot Mountain, a heavy snow swirled down.

A man, drenched in blood, carried a young child on his back as he stumbled up the mountain path.

His vision was nearly gone, each step a monumental effort. He pressed on until his final breath was almost spent, finally arriving before the mountain gate of Verdant Chariot Mountain.

In his final moments, he saw the white-haired Elder stride towards him, and a faint, weak smile touched the corner of his lips.

"Qingming, Qingming… what has happened to you?"

The old man's expression changed drastically, and he could not help but reach out to support the man.

The man shook his head weakly. With immense difficulty, he pushed the child in his arms towards Dorian Chen and gasped out with his last vestige of strength, "Uncle Changyan, this is my child… I beg of you…"

Dorian Chen checked the man's meridians [the energy channels within a cultivator's body], and his face instantly paled.

A moment later, he drew a deep breath, his eyes filled with profound sorrow. "I will take care of this child. Is there anything else you wish to say?"

"Do not seek vengeance… do not seek vengeance…"

Qingming Chen repeated a single phrase, his gaze lingering on Eldrin Chen with profound attachment, until finally, his vitality faded completely and he breathed his last.

Dorian Chen silently closed the departed's eyes, then lowered his gaze to the three-year-old child before him. He sensed an extraordinary calmness in the boy's eyes, yet also a suppressed, ineffable power.

In that single instant, he understood—this child remembered everything he had endured.

"Good child, what is your name?"

As Qingming Chen's life force slowly dissipated, a faint wisp of his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] rose, preparing to journey towards the cycle of reincarnation.

Yet, in that very moment, an unimaginable power traversed the River of Time and Space, tracing back through vast, immeasurable epochs. It carried a distant True Spirit Imprint [the fundamental spiritual signature of a being] and merged it with his fading spirit.

In the blink of an eye, he felt his physical body and Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] completely remolded, Restoration to their absolute peak condition.

When he opened his eyes, he found a man in white robes, bearing a faint resemblance to him yet possessing peerless grace, standing calmly by his side.

The man's eyes held a hint of a smile as he spoke with serene composure.

"Father."

After a brief exchange with his father, Eldrin Chen continued his journey down the River of Time and Space [the metaphysical river that flows through all of existence, carrying the past, present, and future].

He strolled through the annals of time, retracing the steps of bygone days. He beheld once more the Grand Elder, Kael Chen, the Second Elder Chen QingRonan, the Fourth Elder, Alistair Chen, the Fifth Elder, Elara Chen, and the Sixth Elder, Cedric Chen.

He also saw again the older generation of Old Granduncle [a respectful term for a senior male relative], such as Lucius Chen and Dorian Chen.

These old comrades, whose cultivation had never reached great heights, had long since had their souls scattered within the River of Time and Space. Eldrin Chen journeyed along the river's flow, gathering their dispersed True Spirit [the core spiritual essence of a being] and reforging their souls at the very moment of their demise.

In this process, Eldrin Chen witnessed Cedric Chen desperately striving for his Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation]. He saw Chen QingRonan, who, in his waning years, achieved Foundation Establishment yet refused to use a Foundation Establishment Pill [a pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm]. He beheld Kael Chen, who in his twilight years gifted his life-extending treasures to the younger generation.

And he saw, once more, the final, bitter resentment of Alistair Chen.

At the instant of their deaths, Eldrin Chen reforged their souls.

Regrets were mended. Valor, resentment, fate, reincarnation—all the laws and rules of existence were reshaped in the hands of a Grand Luo Immortal Lord [a supreme immortal sovereign].

It is worth noting that Eldrin Chen also retrieved two Purple-Striped Wild Goose [a type of spirit beast] and one Azure Spirit Fish [a spiritual fish].

These two Purple-Striped Wild Goose were the first opponents Eldrin Chen had ever slain in this life, and they were the parents of the very first flock of Purple-Striped Wild Goose.

In those early years, Eldrin Chen relied upon these Purple-Striped Wild Goose to amass a crucial stockpile of cultivation resources, completing the initial capital accumulation for his nascent journey on the Dao.

The Azure Spirit Fish [a type of spiritually nourishing fish] were the descendants of the Azure Spirit Fish King, and they too were among the great contributors during the Chen Clan's initial rise to prominence.

When a Grand Luo Golden Immortal retrieves a departed comrade from the River of Time and Space [the metaphysical river that flows through all of time and space], the more powerful the being was, the more difficult the rescue becomes.

To resurrect one who had stepped into the Forbidden Domain [a legendary cultivation realm of supreme power] and become a Heavenly Immortal Paragon [a supreme being among Heavenly Immortals], even a Grand Luo Golden Immortal would have to pay a significant price.

However, resurrecting those who had only reached the Qi Refining [the initial stage of cultivation] or Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation] realms demanded a price so negligible it was almost inconsequential.

For these comrades from his early cultivation days—all who had shown him kindness or shared any meaningful bond—Eldrin Chen chose to reshape and bring them back.

After completing this task, Eldrin Chen continued his forward journey, effortlessly rescuing Mordecai Lin along the way.

The moment Mordecai Lin was resurrected, he stared at Eldrin Chen in stunned silence. Upon comprehending the cause and effect, he sighed and said, "To think the enemy of my Verdant Sun Sect was a Grand Luo Immortal Lord from the future, Weilai."

"But the Verdant Sun Sect is already gone. What purpose does saving me serve?"

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and shook his head. "There are no dynasties that are Indestructible [utterly unbreakable], nor sects that are Imperishable [truly eternal]. If your loyalty to the Verdant Sun Sect is true, then live well. In time, you may re-establish its lineage and teachings anew."

"Moreover, the debt you owed the Verdant Sun Sect was repaid the moment you fell in battle."

Mordecai Lin was momentarily stunned, then sighed and said, "I never imagined that one day, I would be resurrected by my sworn enemy."

"The cause of yesterday yields the fruit of today. That you can have this karma today stems from a single act of kindness in the past."

Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, then added with a faint smile, "Seas change into mulberry fields, and mountains transform. After countless eons, to meet a respected foe once more is a thing of some solace."

Having retrieved Mordecai Lin, Eldrin Chen continued his descent.

He journeyed downstream along the River of Time and Space, pausing here and there, rescuing many old friends whose souls had scattered to the winds.

Until one day, Eldrin Chen traversed the vast expanse of Space-Time and, within a secluded meditation chamber, resurrected a man of immense dignity.

The moment he was revived, the man looked at Eldrin Chen in astonishment and finally could not help but ask, "You succeeded?"

"Mm."

Eldrin Chen nodded, a genuine smile gracing his features.

This person was none other than Thanatos the God-Slayer. In the past, Eldrin Chen had been ambushed by the Calamity Demon God, his very foundation nearly reduced to ashes.

At that critical moment of near-death, Thanatos the God-Slayer used his own Pure Yang Origin [the fundamental life-giving energy of a Pure Yang cultivator] to sustain a sliver of vitality for Eldrin Chen.

It was precisely by relying on that wisp of Pure Yang Origin that Eldrin Chen fully mastered the five secret forces, enabling him to forge the foundation of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the highest echelon of immortal cultivation].

The price, however, was the complete dissipation of Thanatos the God-Slayer's soul, with only a single strand of his True Spirit [the core essence of a being's consciousness] entering the cycle of reincarnation.

Now, suddenly resurrected, Thanatos the God-Slayer recalled all he had experienced and instantly guessed the truth.

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and spoke calmly, "I have attained the Dao of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal. This journey against the current of the River of Time and Space was undertaken to bring you back, to restore you."

Suppressing the shock in his heart, Thanatos the God-Slayer asked, "How fares the Verdant Consort?"

"My consort has been by my side for twelve million years. She has borne me a daughter and her cultivation has reached the Ancient Immortal Realm [a venerable and powerful stage of immortality]. All is well with her."

Hearing this, Thanatos the God-Slayer finally let out a sigh of relief.

He gave a slight nod, a smile gracing his lips as he said, "It seems the choice I made back then was not in vain."

"My lady has missed you for many years as well. Whatever words you have, we can speak them upon our return."

Eldrin Chen spoke thus, and immediately continued his forward stride.

Not long after, he arrived within Xun Wind Divine Ridge and once again beheld The Tomb-Keeping Elder.

The Tomb-Keeping Elder was one of the most senior predecessors of Violet Boundary [a legendary realm or organization] following the Demon Abyss Cataclysm. In life, his cultivation had reached the Demi-Immortal Realm [a realm just one step below true immortality], and he had forged three foundational pillars for achieving immortality: the Ethereal Dao Fruit [a condensed fruit of one's cultivated Dao], Pseudo-Law [a title signifying mastery over a nascent Law of the universe], and the Half-Immortal Body [a body partially tempered into an immortal state].

This individual had lived through the greater part of the Demon Abyss Cataclysm era and was originally one of the most likely candidates to ascend to immortality after Void-Refining Immortal.

However, later, when the Demon Abyss Cataclysm Eruption [erupted in its final, cataclysmic phase], he fought a lifetime of battles for Violet Boundary, shedding the very last drop of his blood in tens of thousands of years of bloody warfare.

After the fall of Jiang the Sovereign Emperor, The Tomb-Keeping Elder used his own Half-Immortal blood and bones, his Dao Fruit [the crystallized essence of his cultivated path], and his Laws to temper the Eastern Emperor Bell, ultimately guiding the Bell through its Ascension [transcendent evolution] into a genuine Immortal Treasure [a treasure of immortal grade].

Eldrin Chen's ability to defeat the Calamity Demon God owed no small debt to that Eastern Emperor Bell.

It could be said that The Tomb-Keeping Elder was the tomb-keeper for an entire, long era.

He witnessed the glorious finale of the entire Violet Boundary and made indelible contributions to sustaining Violet Boundary until the rise of Eldrin Chen.

And the price was his entire soul-bone and cultivation base, all fused into the Eastern Emperor Bell [a legendary bell of immense power], resulting in his soul scattering completely, utterly annihilated.

"Alas—"

Eldrin Chen let out a heavy sigh and, with a flick of his sleeve, finally extended a single finger.

In that instant, the River of Time and Space [the metaphysical flow governing past, present, and future] trembled violently. To resurrect The Tomb-Keeping Elder, it was necessary to extract his remnant soul from within the Eastern Emperor Bell.

Eldrin Chen's act of reaching across Space-Time [the fabric of reality encompassing time and space] to intervene subtly disrupted the operation of the River of Time and Space. Even for a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm cultivator], such an action demanded an immense and terrible price.

"Cough—"

For the first time, Eldrin Chen coughed up blood, yet he ultimately succeeded.

That world-shaking power pierced through the ancient and modern River of Time and Space, reaching into the distant currents of Space-Time to capture a wisp of a fading remnant soul. Using this as a guide, he drew forth The Tomb-Keeping Elder's blood, bone, and soul-essence from the Eastern Emperor Bell that existed twelve million years in the future.

Using this as a foundation, he summoned a True Spirit [the pure, fundamental spiritual essence of a being], and finally succeeded in resurrecting The Tomb-Keeping Elder.

"Cough, cough—"

The Tomb-Keeping Elder [the ancient guardian of a sacred burial ground] stirred from his slumber, his gaze settling upon Eldrin Chen. His first words were a question, laced with confusion: "How is it that I live again?"

"A calamity!" he exclaimed, a shadow of dread crossing his features. "My blood sacrifice, the offering of my very soul and bones... it failed. Does this mean the plan for the Eastern Emperor Bell [a legendary bell of immense power] to Ascension [undergo a profound metamorphosis and transcend its current state] into an Immortal Treasure [a treasure of celestial grade, surpassing mortal artifacts] has come to naught? All our efforts, wasted?"

Hearing this, a sharp pang of sorrow pierced Eldrin Chen's heart. His eyes grew moist, shimmering with unshed tears.

Memories flooded back—of that fateful battle long ago. The Tomb-Keeping Elder had fought to save him, drenched in blood as he wrested the Heaven-Pillar from its moorings. A mere mortal, he had dared to defy a killing array laid by the Calamity Demon God [a deity of cataclysm and ruin from the demonic races].

In that final clash, The Tomb-Keeping Elder had fallen. Yet with his dying breath, his first and only command to Eldrin Chen was this: to scatter his flesh, blood, soul, and bones across Eastern Emperor Mountain [the sacred mountain of the Eastern Sovereign]. This final act was to stir the power of the mountain ranges spanning millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], to channel the very essence of the land named Ronan, empowering the Eastern Emperor Bell for its Ascension. It was to be their ultimate weapon, an Immortal Treasure forged in sacrifice, meant to turn the tide against the impending demonic calamity.

"Elder,"

Eldrin Chen's voice was thick with emotion. He suppressed the turbulent energies rebelling within his body and finally spoke. "Worry not. It is all over."

"That Calamity Demon God... I have slain it."

Silence stretched between them for a long while as The Tomb-Keeping Elder absorbed the chain of events, understanding dawning upon him.

He stood in stunned silence for many moments. Finally, he took Eldrin Chen's hand, studying the younger man's face intently. A hearty, relieved laugh burst forth. "Hahaha! To have played a part, however small, in the early journey of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the exalted Golden Immortal realm within the Grand Luo hierarchy]... this old man's life was not lived in vain."

The Time [a profound cultivation art that governs the flow of time] flowed onward, and the years slipped away like sand through an hourglass.

After rescuing The Tomb-Keeping Elder, Eldrin Chen continued his descent down the river of time.

This time, he retrieved Seven Avians Recluse, traversed the Ethereal Void Realm [a mysterious and perilous dimension of emptiness] once more, and brought back several of his six fallen nominal disciples whose souls had been utterly scattered and dispersed.

As for those whose souls had not yet been completely annihilated, Eldrin Chen did not forcibly revive them. In the future, he would only need to send word to the Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal of the highest order] of the Netherworld Realm [the underworld realm of the dead] to have them guided back.

After that, Eldrin Chen returned to the Vast Azure Immortal Domain and once more journeyed upstream against the current of time to rescue the master of the Departing Flame Blessed Land.

This Crimson Sun Blessed Land was the first Blessed Land-level Ruins [a land of profound spiritual fortune and natural treasures, now in ruins] that Eldrin Chen had explored after ascending to the Immortal Domain [the higher realm of immortals]. The legacy of the Crimson Sun Blessed Land had allowed Eldrin Chen to gain a firm foothold in the Immortal Domain, forming a subtle karmic bond in the grand tapestry of fate.

Moved by pity for the master of the Crimson Sun Blessed Land, whose soul had been scattered, Eldrin Chen guided him back, thus settling that thread of karma [the principle of cause and effect that binds all beings].

After completing this step, Eldrin Chen proceeded to rescue a portion of the old friends and comrades who had fallen while following him through several great tribulations.

Having accomplished all this, Eldrin Chen finally returned to the era twelve million years later, only to realize he had revived over several thousand old acquaintances in one breath.

"This could be considered... when one attains the Dao [the fundamental principle or path of cultivation], even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven," he mused, a wry smile touching his lips.

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, then shook his head with a faint smile.

With a flick of his sleeve, he brought everyone back into the Abyssal Immortal Domain and entrusted them to Lyra Jiang, Changqing Chen, and others for their settlement.

After completing this, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze once more towards the distant, boundless end of the Space-Time continuum.

Following his cultivation in this lifetime, Eldrin Chen still had two karmic debts left unsettled: those owed to Violet Ye Daoist and the Daoist of Total Annihilation.

However, both were supreme-level Ancient Immortal [powerful immortals who have existed since ancient times], and both had perished for at least several billions of years, making their revival no simple task.

Since both had failed in their attempts to break through to the Grand Luo [the supreme realm of immortality], resulting in the complete scattering of their souls and spirits, the only way to save them was to traverse Space-Time and retrieve them.

Yet, reviving either of them would come at a tremendous cost. Taking Violet Ye Daoist as an example, for Eldrin Chen to save him, he would first need to journey back billions of years through Space-Time. Even for a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [an immortal who has attained the Grand Luo realm], accomplishing this would require paying a significant price.

Furthermore, reviving a supreme-level Ancient Immortal like Violet Ye Daoist would also require bearing the backlash of Space-Time forces.

For Eldrin Chen, reviving a mere Earth Immortal [an immortal bound to the earthly realm] would be but a minor inconvenience. However, the cost of reviving an Ancient Immortal was incalculably greater—exceeding that of an Earth Immortal by hundreds of millions, if not billions, of times.

Therefore, for Eldrin Chen to save Violet Ye Daoist, he would need a special Great Luo Rare Treasure [a priceless treasure of the Grand Luo realm] to withstand the backlash of the Space-Time forces.

Daoist of Total Annihilation [a title for a powerful cultivator] was even more difficult to save; he perished during the Late Primordial Era [a distant and ancient epoch in cosmological history]. The Space-Time [the flow of time and space] separating that era from the present spans trillions of years.

To reverse the flow of time across such an immense span of years is simply not a feat a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm] is capable of. Eldrin Chen would need to at least break through to the realm of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a sovereign ruler born from the primordial chaos] before there would be any possibility of rescuing Daoist of Total Annihilation.