Chapter 1903 : A Dao Field of Eternal Promise

Not long after, Eldrin Chen departed from Black Abyss Heaven.

He journeyed together with Xander Chen to the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of the human race], where he accepted a nominal post. Afterwards, he set about selecting a Dao Field [a cultivator's personal sanctum and place of cultivation].

According to the rules of the Human Race Immortal Court, any being who successfully breaks through to the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm is entitled to choose a Great Luo Dao Field [a sanctum suitable for a Grand Luo Golden Immortal] within the Primordial Immortal Domain.

Of course, such a Great Luo Grade sanctum is not granted freely. Typically, a newly ascended Grand Luo Golden Immortal is only granted the right to use one for a single Kalpa Tribulation [a vast cosmic cycle spanning billions of years].

After that one Kalpa Tribulation, to continue using the Great Luo Dao Field, one must either pay a substantial rental fee or expend an immense fortune to purchase it outright.

Leasing a Great Luo Dao Field is the more common path for ordinary, newly ascended Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

The price for purchasing a Great Luo Dao Field is astronomically high. Most ordinary, newly ascended Grand Luo Golden Immortal simply cannot afford it. Only those Grand Luo Golden Immortal who have lived for hundreds of billions, or even a trillion, Kalpa Tribulation might possess the means to acquire such a sanctum.

This time, however, Eldrin Chen's circumstances were different.

The various Great Emperors of the Human Race Immortal Court, deeming Eldrin Chen's talent and potential to be extraordinary, made a special exception. They granted Eldrin Chen permanent usage rights to a Great Luo Dao Field.

"This junior is deeply honored by the esteemed seniors' profound favor," Eldrin said.

Eldrin Chen gazed upon the several available slots for Great Luo Dao Field before him. After careful and repeated consideration, he ultimately chose the Eastern Desolate Heaven Domain located to the east of the Primordial Immortal Domain.

The Eastern Desolate Heaven Domain is an immensely vast celestial realm. Within this domain reside seven or eight Great Luo Dao Field. These include Great Luo Ancient Sect of the Human Race, as well as Great Luo Inheritance belonging to the Demon Race and the Divine Race. The cultivation ground Eldrin Chen selected was a Grand Luo ancestral spiritual vein within the Eastern Desolate Heaven Domain.

After obtaining the land deed, Eldrin Chen named it the Abyssal Ancestral Court.

Having settled this matter, Eldrin Chen returned to the Vast Azure Immortal Domain. He gathered the members of the Chen Immortal Clan, along with old friends from the Abyssal Immortal Alliance such as Zixuan the Daoist, the Nether Lord of the Ancient Ruins, the Glazed Divine Lord, and Tianyuan the Daoist [a Daoist master whose name means 'Celestial Abyss'].

Within the grand hall, nearly one hundred allies from the Abyssal Immortal Alliance, along with the Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the Golden Immortal realm within the Grand Luo hierarchy] cultivators from the Pure Yang Grotto-Heaven and the Ethereal Void Grotto-Heaven, all wore expressions of joy.

All those present were Heavenly Immortal Paragon [Paragons of the Heavenly Immortal realm] who shared a bond of friendship with Eldrin Chen. Now that Eldrin Chen had successfully proven his Dao and attained the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, they too felt a sense of shared honor and pride.

"Esteemed friends,"

As he looked upon the assembled Celestial Immortal [Immortals of the Celestial realm], a faint smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips.

His gaze swept across the gathering before he finally spoke. "You have followed me for many years. Many of you have participated in the great calamities, the Dao Tribulation [a tribulation testing one's comprehension of the Dao], and even the Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle-ending cataclysm], contributing your strength in ways great and small."

"Now that I, your lord, have attained the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm through this Kalpa Tribulation, it is only fitting that I bestow blessings upon you all."

With these words, Eldrin Chen paused briefly before continuing, "I intend to allocate one thousand Celestial Immortal [a powerful immortal who has ascended beyond the mortal realm] slots within the Abyssal Immortal Domain [a vast, otherworldly realm of profound spiritual energy], to serve as a sanctuary from tribulation for the Abyssal Immortal Alliance and our allied factions."

Upon hearing this, everyone present immediately revealed expressions of pleasant surprise.

A sanctuary from tribulation, as the name implies, is a place to evade the Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that tests an immortal's cultivation and resolve].

It must be understood that a Heavenly Immortal Paragon [a supreme immortal who has mastered the heavenly laws] must face a Kalpa Tribulation once every one hundred million years, with the risk of perishing being exceedingly high.

Without breaking through to the Ancient Immortal Realm [a venerable and ancient stage of immortal cultivation], almost no Celestial Immortal can survive three consecutive Kalpa Tribulation. Even among Ancient Immortal [immortals of great antiquity and power], very few can live through ten such trials.

In truth, those capable of weathering ten successive Kalpa Tribulation have already cultivated to the level of an Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations]; those who fail are mostly reduced to ashes long before.

Thus, a Heavenly Immortal Paragon who does not ascend to a higher realm can expect a lifespan of, at most, several hundred million years.

However, under the protection of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal who has attained the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, a state of near-perfection], an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation] can be freed from all calamities and tribulations. Even an ordinary Ascension Immortal Realm [an immortal who has recently ascended] Immortal could then live for hundreds of billions, even thousands of billions of years.

As long as the Immortal Domain [a realm governed by immortal laws] remains Imperishable [eternal and indestructible], those Immortal sheltered by a Grand Luo [a supreme immortal realm] could be said to share the longevity of heaven and earth itself.

Among the nearly one hundred Celestial Immortal seated here, only a very select few possess the potential to prove their Dao and attain the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm. The vast majority lack either the foundational confidence or the enlightened comprehension required for such a breakthrough. How could they not be overjoyed and ecstatic upon receiving Eldrin Chen's promise?

Eldrin Chen swept his gaze across the assembly. The elders from the Pure Yang Grotto-Heaven, the many Celestial Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the celestial realm] from the Ethereal Void Grotto-Heaven, and the several immortal clams from the Glazed Grotto-Heaven all wore expressions of joy. They bowed deeply to the ground and spoke in unison, "We offer our deepest gratitude for your acceptance, Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord]. We pledge our lives to your service."

"We are all old friends here. There is no need for such formality."

Eldrin Chen smiled faintly. With a wave of his sleeve, a gentle force lifted Solar Consort, Lunar Consort, and the other familiar figures back to their feet.

After settling this matter, Eldrin Chen spoke once more. "Though I have attained the Grand Luo [the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, a supreme state of cultivation], it is unwise to place all one's eggs in a single basket."

"Henceforth, the Abyssal Immortal Alliance and my Chen Immortal Clan shall be established in three separate locations."

"Fifty percent shall accompany me to the Abyssal Immortal Domain, thirty percent shall go to the Primordial Immortal Domain and the Abyssal Ancestral Court, and the remaining twenty percent shall remain in the Vast Azure Immortal Domain as a branch lineage."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. They had nurtured the Vast Azure Immortal Domain for many years; abandoning it entirely would be a great pity.

Moreover, to avoid potential calamity within the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation], leaving a portion of the Abyssal Immortal Alliance's strength and a branch of the Chen Clan here was a prudent choice.

However, Glazed Divine Lord pondered for a moment before speaking. "But who, then, should be the ones to remain?"

"A small contingent of strength, guarded by a few Celestial Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the celestial realm], will suffice," Eldrin Chen stated calmly. "The Celestial Immortal elders from the Immortal Alliance can take turns standing guard. When the time of the Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal] approaches, the guarding Celestial Immortal shall return to the Abyssal Immortal Domain to seek refuge from the tribulation."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. Within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, this was precisely how the major ancient sects operated as well.

Following this, Eldrin Chen did not linger further, allowing the members of the Immortal Alliance to deliberate on the finer details amongst themselves.

Eldrin Chen exited the grand hall and, in a single step, arrived beyond the borders of the Great Cold Immortal Domain. With a flick of his sleeve, he then teleported Celestial Maiden and Tianya the Ancient Ancestor to his side.

Ever since his breakthrough into the Grand Luo realm, Eldrin Chen had not yet found the opportunity to meet privately with Tianya the Ancient Ancestor and Celestial Maiden. Now, he had finally managed to carve out a moment for this long-awaited reunion.

Tianya the Ancient Ancestor and Celestial Maiden had been immersed in secluded cultivation when, suddenly, an irresistible force swept them away. By the time their senses cleared, they found themselves within the Chaos, with Eldrin Chen standing before them, a gentle smile gracing his features.

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, their hearts swelled with joy. They immediately clasped their hands and bowed, saying, "We pay our respects to the Immortal Lord."

"Fellow Daoists, we share a bond forged through shared trials and tribulations. There is no need for such formality between us."

Eldrin Chen offered a warm smile. With a single thought from Eldrin, he cleaved a Grotto-Heaven [a blessed paradise realm] from the Chaos and conjured an immortal palace within it. He then invited the two to take their seats inside.

Hearing his words, Tianya the Ancient Ancestor and Celestial Maiden recalled the camaraderie of several million years they had shared. A wave of relief washed over them, and the inexplicable pressure they felt seemed to lessen considerably.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen smiled faintly. After pouring tea for both of them, he spoke, "The reason for my visit today is to invite you both to accompany me to the Abyssal Immortal Domain."

Upon hearing this, both of them felt a surge of joy in their hearts. The Abyssal Immortal Domain was located within the Depths of Chaos.

The Opportunity [chance for advancement and fortune] found within the Chaos Sea was far more precious than those at its fringes or within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains. If they could follow Eldrin Chen within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, receiving his guidance and cultivation, their future prospects would undoubtedly be vastly greater.

Thinking of this, Tianya the Ancient Ancestor immediately spoke, "To receive a personal invitation from a Grand Luo Immortal Lord [an Immortal Lord of the highest order] is truly an honor for this old man."

Celestial Maiden also nodded, her eyes shimmering with a faint light as she said, "From now on, I must ask for your guidance."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he retrieved two rare treasures from within it.

The first was an ancient sword brimming with a bone-piercing, icy radiance. The other was a piece of Innate Divine Metal [a primordial metal born of heaven and earth, possessing innate spiritual properties] that refracted light like water.

"This is..."

Seeing these two treasures, both of them were inwardly startled.

Eldrin Chen nodded and then spoke, "During this Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cataclysm that reshapes the world], I slew several foreign Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [Ancient Immortals who have survived eight great tribulations] and acquired a few Innate Spiritual Treasure [treasures born from the primordial chaos, possessing immense innate power]."

"Of these two treasures, the ancient sword is named 'Frost Soul Heavenly Song' and the divine metal is the Vast Sea Divine Metal. Both are among the Violet Legacy [a collection of legendary treasures], and they happen to align perfectly with your elemental affinities. I shall lend them to you."

Upon hearing this, both of them felt a surge of joy in their hearts, yet they resisted the temptation and said, "These treasures... perhaps your Dao Companion should use them first?"

Eldrin Chen shook his head, however, and spoke, "Do not overthink it. These two treasures were specifically reserved for you."

Only after hearing his firm words did they retract their previous thought, each taking possession of the Frost Soul Heavenly Song sword and the Vast Sea Divine Metal.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of approval. In truth, during the Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial], Eldrin Chen had slain nearly one hundred Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [immortals who have survived eight heavenly tribulations], and the spoils of war he obtained were naturally astonishing.

Throughout the entire conflict, Eldrin Chen had seized close to ten Innate Spiritual Treasure [treasures born from the primal chaos of heaven and earth], along with several portions of Innate Rare Treasure [rare materials of innate origin].

Among them, Eldrin Chen had fused four of the Innate Spiritual Treasure—namely, an immortal seal, a pagoda, an ancient cauldron, and the Soaring Immortal Zither—into the Abyssal Seal, yet several others still remained.

However, most of the captured treasures were Innate Spiritual Treasure that had been bound to the Great Dao [the fundamental law of the cosmos] by their former Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal masters. With the fall of those Ancient Immortal, the treasures' foundational essence was severely damaged, rendering them incapable of being used to break through the Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Pass [a critical bottleneck in cultivation] for dozens of Kalpa Tribulation to come.

For example, the Crimson Flame Firefly obtained by Eldrin Chen was merely a Low Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, yet it was actually the embryo of an Innate Supreme Treasure [the highest grade of innate treasure] that had been gestating halfway.

Now, its artifact spirit had fallen into a deep slumber due to the demise of the Infernal Prison Sacred Spirit, and it would be unable to Restoration [restore/regain] its peak power for a considerable time.

Having now given the Frost Soul Heavenly Song and Vast Sea Divine Metal to the two, Eldrin Chen no longer possessed any other Innate Spiritual Treasure in his personal holdings. Only two Innate Spiritual Treasure, kept within the clan treasury as part of the family's foundational reserves, remained available to assist someone in breaking through to the Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal realm.

After settling the karmic ties with Tianya the Ancient Ancestor and Celestial Maiden, Eldrin Chen recalled something else and spoke up, "The two of you achieved the Dao [reached a high state of enlightenment and power] at an earlier time. I wonder if you had any dealings with the seniors from the Violet Boundary [a legendary realm or treasure associated with the Violet Immortal Lord]?"

Upon hearing this, the two of them fell into a brief, contemplative silence.

After a moment, Tianya the Ancient Ancestor finally replied, "In the past, the older generation of Immortals from the Violet Boundary, almost all received grace from Violet Immortal Lord. Those who still live today should have cultivation realms of at least the Celestial Immortal [a high-level immortal realm] level."

"However, after Violet Immortal Lord fell all those years ago, we all feared retribution from Senior Violet's enemies. Therefore, we concealed our identities and severed contact with one another."

"If you truly wish to find them, it is not difficult. You need only announce that you hail from the Violet Boundary."

Eldrin Chen heard this and immediately shook his head decisively.

In his time, Violet Immortal Lord had cultivated to the Great Perfection of Primordial Emperor Lord [the pinnacle of the Primordial Emperor Lord realm] in a mere eight million years, a truly meteoric and awe-inspiring figure.

Eldrin Chen shared the same origin in the Violet Boundary as Violet Immortal Lord and had also forged a True Spirit Foundation [an exceptionally pure and powerful foundation for cultivation]. If this news were to spread, it would be impossible for others not to make the connection.

And at that point, once they believed he had inherited Violet Immortal Lord's legacy, it would inevitably attract the covetous gaze of Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarchs [supreme beings who rule over primordial chaos]. With his current level of cultivation, Eldrin Chen could not bear the weight of such karmic consequences.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen stated firmly, "Unless the day comes when I prove my Dao and ascend as a Chaos Celestial Emperor, knowledge of my connection to the Violet Boundary must not be revealed."

Upon hearing this, both individuals nodded in agreement.

Tianya the Ancient Ancestor drew a deep breath and then spoke, "Many years ago, I had already sealed all news regarding the Violet Boundary [a legendary, world-encompassing treasure]."

"Now, within our respective Grotto-Heaven [a self-contained, transcendent realm cultivated by immortals], only a handful of individuals know of our possession of the Violet Boundary. These are people whose fates are inextricably linked to ours, fellow ascendants bound to the Violet Boundary. It is impossible for them to have leaked the information."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and said, "Bring them all to the Abyssal Immortal Domain [the supreme immortal realm founded by Eldrin Chen]. For those you are not absolutely certain about, erase their memories concerning the Violet Boundary."

"Rest assured, we have already taken care of that matter long ago."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen nodded once more. "Prepare yourselves. In a few days, I will come to escort you to the Abyssal Immortal Domain."

In the years that followed, a grand migration plan commenced for the entire Abyssal Immortal Alliance and the close allies of the Chen Immortal Clan.

Eldrin Chen personally oversaw the operation. Over the course of tens of thousands of years, the monumental task of relocating the entire Abyssal Immortal Alliance and the Chen Immortal Clan was finally completed.

After handling all these affairs, Eldrin Chen guided the Violet Boundary into the depths of the Abyssal Immortal Domain, concealing it within the most profound layers of multidimensional space, thus placing it under his ultimate protection.

Only after settling all these matters did Eldrin Chen return to the Abyssal Immortal Domain to begin examining the gains from the recent Great Luo Immortal Banquet [a grand celestial feast hosted by Great Luo Immortals].

For this Great Luo Immortal Banquet [a grand celestial feast hosted by high-ranking immortals], the number of Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme realm of immortal cultivation] attendees exceeded several thousand. Although these Grand Luo Golden Immortals were reluctant to part with treasures of the Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme grade of magical artifact born from the primordial chaos] grade, the gifts they presented were still of extraordinary value.

Eldrin Chen made a simple tally and found he had received over ten thousand items of Innate Rare Treasure [a high-grade magical treasure of innate origin], several thousand Primordial Ancient Treasure [an ancient artifact from the dawn of creation], and nearly one hundred pieces of Great Luo Rare Treasure [a rare and wondrous object from the Great Luo realm].

Furthermore, various items such as Great Luo Immortal Pill [elixirs refined in the Great Luo realm], Innate Spiritual Fruit [a spiritual fruit born from the primordial chaos], and Innate Spiritual Herb [a spiritual herb of innate origin], when combined, also numbered nearly one hundred.

Eldrin Chen stored all these treasures within the clan vaults, preserving them as the foundational reserves of the Chen Immortal Clan. He then separately retrieved the truly top-tier rarities, laying them all out before him.

This time, the number of supreme rarities Eldrin Chen truly obtained amounted to only seven or eight.

Among them were two items: the Seven-Aperture Divine Stone received from Taicang Divine Emperor, and the Six Orifices Divine Stone gifted by Taiyang Emperor Lord.

Eldrin Chen took out the two divine stones, summoned the first through fourth aperture divine stones from the clan vaults, and then set all six stones aside together.

These Nine-Aperture Divine Stone [legendary stones with nine spiritual apertures] number nine in total. Legend holds that gathering all nine divine stones can assist an ordinary Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a sovereign ruler within the primordial chaos] in shattering their limits, allowing them to cultivate a True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the ultimate form of a cultivator's spiritual core] while still within the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm.

For those who have already cultivated a True Spirit Primordial Spirit, they can fuse all nine divine stones into their Primordial Soul Apertures [the spiritual gateways of the soul's origin], thereby enhancing the cultivation speed and potency of their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator].

It is said that once all nine divine stones are assembled, one can cultivate the 'Primordial Spirit Treasure' [a treasure that embodies and empowers the primordial spirit]. That Primordial Spirit Treasure serves as the proof-of-Dao artifact for attaining the 'Soul Path Celestial Emperor' [a Celestial Emperor whose authority stems from mastery over the soul], possessing the power to suppress all things.

Eldrin Chen had already obtained the One-Aperture, Two-Aperture, Three-Aperture, Four-Aperture, Six-Aperture, and Seven-Aperture Divine Stones. Although he had not yet gathered all nine, this was already an immensely powerful force.

"I am still missing one Five-Aperture Divine Stone to complete the set of seven," he mused.

Gazing at the divine stones before him, Eldrin Chen fell into a moment of contemplative silence.

Fortunately, a Five-Aperture Divine Stone was not prohibitively expensive; it could likely be purchased for the price of a single Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light. He resolved to make a trip to the Immortal Court to acquire one when the opportunity arose.

Thus, he stored the divine stones away and turned his attention to the remaining few treasures of great weight and significance.