Chapter 1918 : Echoes of a Fallen Progenitor

"So this is the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain?"

Gazing upon the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain before him, Eldrin Chen murmured softly to himself, his eyes reflecting on the history of this place.

The Immortal Clam Race, as one of the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races, was a force of immense glory during the Primordial Era. This lineage possessed the ability to ingest the waters of the Primordial Chaos and transform them into Innate Clam Pearl, a feat that had once produced twelve Grand Luo Golden Immortal within their clan. Furthermore, their might was anchored by the Nine-Colored Immortal Clam Progenitor, a being who had attained the realm of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch and held dominion over the Chaos.

In that bygone age, while the Immortal Clam Race might not have claimed the very pinnacle of power among the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races, their strength was undoubtedly ranked within the top thirty.

Alas, the great war of the Late Primordial Era brought calamity. Their Progenitor vanished into the depths of the Chaos, and more than half of their twelve Grand Luo Golden Immortal fell, never to fully return. This catastrophe caused the power of the Immortal Clam Race to plummet, relegating them to the lower ranks of the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races.

Had that been the extent of their misfortune, the Immortal Clam Race could perhaps have maintained a semblance of their former dignity among the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races, relying on the deep reserves of their ancient legacy.

Yet, more than one Kalpa Tribulation ago, the Violet Immortal Lord emerged, a comet streaking across the heavens. The Immortal Clam Race forged a bond with this rising star.

In their zeal to aid the Violet Immortal Lord in his ascension to become a Chaos Celestial Emperor, the Immortal Clam Race poured forth their strength and resources almost without limit. The final outcome, however, was a near-total collapse of their race.

In the wake of that cataclysmic battle, several more of the Immortal Clam Race's Grand Luo Golden Immortal perished. Only the Seven Radiance Immortal Lord, shielded by a supreme treasure left behind by their Progenitor, managed to cling to life.

It is precisely because of these successive disasters that the power of the present-day Immortal Clam Race has declined precipitously, sinking them to the very bottom tier of the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races.

Among the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races [the collective name for one hundred races with innate spiritual potential], the Immortal Clam Race [a race of immortal clam demons] was simultaneously the weakest and one of the wealthiest. This precarious situation left the current Immortal Clam Race in dire straits, able only to rely on the Formation [a mystical defensive array] of their superior-grade Immortal Domain [a realm suffused with immortal energy] and the steadfast defense of the Seven-Colored Immortal Lord to hold their ground. They dared not venture even half a step beyond the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain [the radiant immortal realm of the Seven-Colored Immortal Lord].

Thoughts swirled within Eldrin Chen's mind as he pondered the origins of the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races, a faint ripple of contemplation shimmering in the depths of his gaze.

"Fellow Daoist Eldrin [a respectful title for a fellow cultivator], Younger Sister Nyssa [a respectful title for a female cultivator], please, come in swiftly."

Just as Eldrin Chen's thoughts flickered, a glimmer of light emanated from within the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain, and a portal swung open for the trio.

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Nyssa Qu before stepping through. They found themselves within a breathtakingly beautiful expanse of sea.

At the heart of this exquisite seascape, a woman of peerless elegance and grace had been waiting.

"Forgive this humble one for not greeting you from afar. I pray you will overlook this discourtesy."

The Seven-Colored Immortal Lord spoke with a smile, her bearing and aura possessing a transcendent, peerless beauty unlike any Eldrin Chen had ever witnessed.

Gathering his thoughts, Eldrin Chen immediately clasped his hands in salute. "Senior, you bestowed great kindness upon Nyssa Qu, enabling her to attain the Grand Luo [the supreme realm of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal]. We have come specifically to express our gratitude."

"There is no need for such formalities."

Seven-Colored Immortal Lord offered a faint smile, then looked at Nyssa Qu and said, "When I first heard of Nyssa, I merely thought our Immortal Clam Race [a race of immortal mollusks] would gain another Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal who has transcended the cycles of fate]."

"I never imagined we would nurture a seed capable of becoming a Chaos Celestial Emperor [a supreme ruler born from primordial chaos]."

Nyssa Qu smiled slightly and gave a respectful bow. "That Nyssa has reached this day is largely thanks to the Immortal Lord's [a title for a powerful immortal] guidance and cultivation."

"We are kin; there is no need for such formality." Seven-Colored Immortal Lord shook his head, then continued, "Moreover, the aid I provided was but a small part of what led to your current achievements."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a stir in his heart. Over the years, Seven-Colored Immortal Lord had bestowed a great many treasures, yet those were not the key to Nyssa Qu forging her six True Spirit Foundation [the foundational spiritual cores of a supreme cultivator].

The greatest credit for Nyssa Qu's success lay with the wisp of Chaos Primordial Qi [primordial energy from the dawn of creation] gifted by the Violet Immortal Lord. Without it, achieving even one or two True Spirit Foundation would have been an ordeal of immense difficulty for Nyssa.

Of course, Seven-Colored Immortal Lord had also provided Nyssa Qu with vast cultivation resources over the years, including seven pieces of immortal metal at the Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from heaven and earth, possessing innate power] grade, and the Innate Spiritual Treasure-grade Seven-Colored Immortal Pearl.

Without the assistance of these treasures, Nyssa Qu might have needed several more Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of destruction and rebirth] to complete her six True Spirit Foundation.

"Regardless, now that you have proven your Grand Luo [the supreme path beyond fate] Dao, there is a matter I would like to entrust to you."

It was at this moment that Seven-Colored Immortal Lord suddenly spoke these words.

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he could not help but inquire, "The matter you speak of, Senior, may I ask what it entails?"

"To aid my younger sisters in their return."

Seven-Colored Immortal Lord spoke, a grave expression settling upon his features.

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, and he immediately pressed, "Please, Senior, explain in detail. If it is within our power to assist, we will certainly lend our aid."

Seven-Colored Immortal Lord nodded, then said with a bitter smile, "During the battle of the Late Primordial Era [the final epoch of the primordial world], my seven younger sisters all fell within the Depths of Chaos [the formless, primordial expanse], yet they perished amidst a host of formidable foes…"

As Seven-Colored Immortal Lord recounted the tale, Eldrin Chen gradually came to understand the tragic plight of the Immortal Clam Race [a race of powerful, clam-like beings who cultivate to immortality].

It turned out that during the war of the Late Primordial Era, the Seven-Colored Immortal Clam Tribe lost seven of their Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the highest realm of immortal cultivation, representing supreme power and longevity]. Those seven Grand Luo Golden Immortal had all fallen in the depths of the Chaos Sea [the primordial, formless expanse from which all creation emerged].

If that were all, the Grand Luo [the supreme immortal realm] of the Seven-Colored Immortal Clam [a legendary, multi-hued clam of immense spiritual power] tribe could still have revived and returned.

But what was more terrifying was that those seven Grand Luo Golden Immortal of the Immortal Clam Race had each perished within the territories of the Chaotic Fiendgod [ancient, malevolent beings born from the primordial chaos].

This led to a dreadful predicament. Even if these seven Grand Luo of the Immortal Clam Race revived once every hundred cycles of the Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal], they could never escape the encircling hunt of the Chaotic Fiendgod.

Although the Seven-Colored Immortal Lord possessed cultivation at the Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection realm, formidable enemies lurked beyond her domain, watching with covetous eyes. Countless top-tier Grand Luo Golden Immortals and even Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarchs had their sights set on the Immortal Clam Race [a race of immortal clam demons] as a prized target. Were she to leave the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain, she would inevitably fall into an ambush.

Furthermore, many enemies of the Immortal Clam Race would never permit a Seven-Colored Immortal Clam [a member of the Immortal Clam Race] to go and rescue their kin.

Thus, each time the seven Immortal Clam RaceGrand Luo Immortal Lords [powerful immortal lords of the Grand Luo realm] awakened from their slumber, they lacked guardians to ensure their safety.

The combat prowess of the Immortal Clam RaceGrand Luo Golden Immortals was inherently not formidable. Stripped of their Innate Spiritual Treasures [treasures born with their spirit, possessing immense power] and weakened from their recent revival, their Force Extreme [a supreme divine ability] was at its most feeble.

Such dire circumstances meant that every time they stirred from the depths of the Chaos [the primordial, formless void], they would be hunted down and besieged by Chaotic Fiendgods [ancient, chaotic demon-gods], leading to their defeat and a return to deep slumber.

"Such a tragic fate," Eldrin Chen murmured, drawing a sharp breath as the full weight of their plight settled upon him.

Having grasped the situation, Eldrin Chen inquired, "How can we assist?"

Without further preamble, the Seven-Colored Immortal Lord produced a map. "My seven sisters fell across three separate battlefields," she stated.

"These three battlefields are the Heaven's Roar Dao Domain, the Giant Turtle Dao Domain, and the Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss."

"Within these sites, two fell at the Heaven's Roar Dao Domain. However, a Chaotic Fiendgod of Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection cultivation perpetually guards that place. With your current strength, you cannot intervene there."

"Within the Giant Turtle Dao Domain [the domain ruled by the ancient Giant Turtle Demi-Progenitor], four of my sisters have fallen, including Violet Spirit Younger Sister who was at the eighth level of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the Golden Immortal stage within the Grand Luo realm]. It is a pity that it is the territory of the Giant Turtle Demi-Progenitor [a being at the Demi-Progenitor level, one step below a true Progenitor], who is at the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [the Emperor Monarch realm within the Primordial Chaos] level. Each time they attempt to revive, they are suppressed and slain by the Giant Turtle Demi-Progenitor."

"Only this Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss [a vast, desolate, and perilous chasm in the Chaos], due to its uniquely hostile environment, lacks powerful Chaotic Fiendgod [powerful, ancient demons born from the primordial Chaos] within its depths. You might be able to lend a hand there."

As Seven-Colored Immortal Lord [an Immortal Lord known for her connection to the seven colors] recounted the tale, Eldrin Chen's gaze was drawn towards the location of the Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss.

That Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss was a rare Chaos Wasteland [a barren and dangerous region within the primordial Chaos]. It stretched across an expanse ultimately dozens of Dao Domain [a vast territory ruled by a powerful being who has comprehended a Great Dao] in size, yet the Chaos Sea Waters [the turbulent, energy-infused waters of the primordial Chaos] within it were saturated with an aura of utter desolation.

This aura of death was exceptionally potent, brimming with a powerful corrosive nature. Moreover, it held a particular hostility towards Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to immortality] of higher cultivation levels. Consequently, very few top-tier Grand Luo Golden Immortal dared to set foot within it.

Thus, although the entire Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss was vast, Chaotic Fiendgod within it were exceedingly scarce. Only a handful who cultivated the Great Luo Body [a powerful physical cultivation method aligned with the Grand Luo realm] or followed special Great Daos would choose to cultivate within its confines.

"This Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss..."

Eldrin Chen spoke suddenly, a flicker of curiosity arising in his heart regarding the formation of this place, the Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss.

Seeing his curiosity, the Seven Radiance Immortal Lord [an honorific title for the Seven-Colored Immortal Lord, referencing her radiant nature] began to narrate the origins of the Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss.

"During the Primordial Era [the earliest, mythic age of creation], within the Southern Abyss Six Domains [a collective name for six major domains in the Southern Abyss region], there lived a madman. He called himself Madman Chu, a Great Luo Peerless Prodigy [a peerless genius within the Grand Luo realm] who had proven his Dao using six True Spirit Foundation [a supreme foundation for cultivation, forged from one's True Spirit]."

"Madman Chu was a figure of boundless arrogance. After attaining the Grand Luo realm, he refused to tread the conventional path. He boldly declared his ambition to pioneer a new precedent, forsaking the True Spirit Great Dao and the path of the True Spirit Physique. He even disdained the True Spirit Primordial Spirit, stubbornly determined to forge a path to the heavens through sheer magical power alone."

"Yet, this man was a prodigy. Using his own heart as a foundation, he cultivated the Eternal Indestructible Heart and created the Heart Refinement Dao, a cultivation art dedicated solely to refining magical power. In one breath, he advanced all the way to the realm of Great Perfection of Primordial Emperor Lord."

"Ultimately, upon the Heaven's Heart Ancient Plain, he sought to prove his Dao and attain the state of a Chaos Celestial Emperor, aspiring to become the first person in all of history to achieve the Dao through magical power."

"Alas..."

The Seven Radiance Immortal Lord shook his head and sighed, saying, "He failed. He could not control that supreme Chaos-realm magical power. In the final moment, his physical body, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], his Dao Fruit [the culmination of one's cultivation path], and indeed all his foundations were blasted apart by the rampaging energy."

"His Eternal Indestructible Heart shattered. Not even a True Spirit Foundation could withstand that supreme Chaos power; it was torn into infinite fragments and scattered into the Chaos."

"And the Heaven's Heart Ancient Plain was blasted into a deep abyss, which later generations renamed the Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss."

"To forsake the Primordial Spirit, the physical body, and the Dao Fruit, stubbornly insisting on blazing a unique trail through the Dao of magical power..." Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, then nodded. "This Madman Chu was indeed a true madman."

The Seven Radiance Immortal Lord nodded in agreement and continued, "With Madman Chu's innate talent and the Chaos Primordial Qi he obtained, had he chosen any of the other established paths, he might have long since proven his Dao and become a Chaos Celestial Emperor."

"Yet, in the end, this arrogant soul was defeated by the very arrogance that defined him."

The Seven Radiance Immortal Lord spoke slowly, a trace of lamentation flickering in the depths of his gaze.

Eldrin Chen offered no reply, his eyes fixed instead upon the map of the Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss. What manner of being was this, that even in death, its power could sunder dozens of Chaos Dao Domain asunder?

Its lingering magical power had corroded a vast expanse of the Chaos Sea, etching its mark across dozens of Dao Domain. Even now, after the passage of hundreds of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation, that place remained saturated with the unyielding, arrogant, and domineering will of the Imperishable [a state of absolute indestructibility], a will that seemed to mock all who would dare to follow in its wake across the eons.

"The one who fell within the Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss was none other than Snow Soul Younger Sister."

The Seven-Colored Immortal Lord withdrew his thoughts, his gaze returning to the map. "By my reckoning," he said, "Snow Soul Younger Sister will awaken once more fifty million years from now."

"When that time comes, several Chaotic Fiendgod [primordial beings of chaos and immense power] will likely seek to prevent her resurrection. You must act according to your strength. If the task proves too great, it would be wiser to wait and attempt her rescue after one hundred more Kalpa Tribulation have passed."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen inquired, "Among those who would hunt her, are there any at the Great Luo Late Stage?"

"It is unlikely."

The Seven-Colored Immortal Lord pondered for a moment before explaining, "The residual magical power within the Heart-Rending Ancient Abyss exerts a far more potent corrosive effect on beings of higher cultivation. Those who have reached the Great Luo Late Stage rarely dare to set foot within its bounds."

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Nyssa Qu before stating firmly, "To miss this opportunity would mean waiting another one hundred Kalpa Tribulation. That span of time is far too long."

"When the time comes, let us go and see. I believe that even if we encounter a Late Great Luo Golden Immortal [a cultivator at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm], we will have the power to protect ourselves."

Seven-Colored Immortal Lord nodded, a sigh of relief escaping him as he said, "Then I can only trouble you with this."

Eldrin Chen smiled and then spoke, "Nyssa Qu is not only my Dao Companion [a cultivation partner bound by profound vows], but also a Grand Luo Immortal Lord [a supreme immortal lord] of the Immortal Clam Race [a race of powerful clam demons]. It is only right to lend a hand within our capabilities."

Seeing that both were willing to act, a faint smile finally graced the features of Seven-Colored Immortal Lord.

Afterwards, Seven-Colored Immortal Lord warmly hosted them, giving them a tour of the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain [a celestial realm bathed in seven-colored light]. He also presented several portions of Great Luo Rare Treasure [extremely rare treasures of the Great Luo realm] to Nyssa Qu, as a generous gift for her Ascension [the act of breaking through to a higher cultivation realm] to Grand Luo [the Grand Luo Immortal realm].

Eldrin Chen glanced at the gifts and found that what Seven-Colored Immortal Lord had bestowed was astonishingly valuable.

The gifts from Seven-Colored Immortal Lord numbered only three items: a Sun God Pearl [a divine pearl containing solar essence], a Moon God Pearl [a divine pearl containing lunar essence], and a Star God Pearl [a divine pearl containing stellar essence].

These three precious pearls were the Lifebound Pearls [a cultivator's core treasure, intimately linked to their life force] condensed by Grand Luo experts of the Immortal Clam Race who had reached the Late Great Luo Golden Immortal stage. Each was comparable in value to a Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure born from heaven and earth], capable of transforming the waters of the Chaos Sea Waters [the primordial, formless sea of chaos] into cultivation resources for refining one's physical body, Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], and magical power.

With these three treasures, supplemented by the Soul-Nourishing Wood [a mystical wood that nourishes the soul] and the Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill [a supreme elixir refined through ten cycles], the cultivation speed of the members of the Chen Immortal Clan was certain to see significant further improvement.

After accepting this gift, Eldrin Chen also presented some gifts in return to the Immortal Clam Race.

The treasures he offered were not of the highest individual value, but their quantity was truly staggering: three thousand stalks of Supreme-Grade Innate Soul-Nourishing Wood [a rare spiritual wood that nourishes and strengthens the soul at its most fundamental level] and thirty thousand Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill [a high-grade elixir refined through ten cycles of purification, known for its potent effects on cultivation].

Such vast resources held little use for Seven-Colored Immortal Lord, yet they were more than sufficient to allow the Immortal Clam Race [a powerful demonic race known for their longevity and defensive prowess] to nurture a great multitude of Ancient Immortal [a venerable and powerful rank among immortal cultivators].

One must understand, in its prime during the era of its zenith, the Immortal Clam Race boasted twelve Grand Luo [the pinnacle realm of cultivation, representing supreme power and enlightenment] powerhouses, and its ranks of Ancient Immortal numbered in the thousands. Their current decline stemmed from a gradual waning of fortune, further exacerbated by the incident involving the Violet Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord associated with the color violet].

Now, with these resources in hand, they should allow the Immortal Clam Race to Restoration [to recover and revitalize] some measure of the vitality and foundational strength among their Celestial Immortal [a high immortal realm] and Ancient Immortal cultivators.

In truth, Seven-Colored Immortal Lord was also greatly astonished by the resources in Eldrin Chen's possession. Others would trade Soul-Nourishing Wood [wood with properties that nourish the soul] in mere small fragments.

Eldrin Chen, however, presented not just whole stalks, but a staggering three thousand of them at once—a quantity rivaling the accumulated cultivation and breeding efforts of many Great Luo Ancient Sect [ancient and powerful sects led by Grand Luo realm experts] over billions of years.

Of course, even such a vast amount of Supreme-Grade Innate Soul-Nourishing Wood held limited utility for those in the mid to late stages of Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the Golden Immortal stage within the Grand Luo realm]. Seven-Colored Immortal Lord was merely mildly surprised and did not attach undue significance to it.

After touring the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain [the immortal realm ruled by the Seven-Colored Immortal Lord], Eldrin Chen ultimately decided to leave Glazed Qu behind.

Glazed Divine Lord was of the foundational lineage of the Seven-Colored Immortal Clam [a majestic demonic clam beast associated with seven colors] and had performed the great service of guiding Nyssa Qu. Seven-Colored Immortal Lord planned to keep her within the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain to be nurtured as a personal disciple.

In the end, Eldrin Chen and Nyssa Qu departed from the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain and returned to the Abyssal Immortal Domain [the immortal domain associated with the Abyss, ruled by Eldrin Chen].

After returning to the Abyssal Immortal Domain, Eldrin Chen used the three Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Sun God Pearl, the Moon God Pearl, and the Star God Pearl—to lay down the 'Chaos Star Glazed Great Formation' within the Abyssal Heaven.

This formation could directly draw upon the Chaos Water [the primordial, undifferentiated essence of water from before creation], transforming it into the Sun, Moon, and Star Three Lights Divine Water [a sacred water imbued with the purified essence of the celestial bodies]. This divine water held remarkable benefits, even for the cultivation of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal who has transcended the constraints of fate and attained a state of near-perfection].

Before Eldrin Chen could personally test the formation's efficacy, the day for the Great Luo Immortal Banquet [a grand celestial feast held to celebrate an immortal's ascension to the Grand Luo realm] arrived.

The Great Luo Immortal Banquet held for Lyra Jiang was comparable in scale and grandeur to the one held for Eldrin Chen, with all major powers arriving bearing lavish gifts.

However, unlike the banquet for Eldrin Chen, which was disrupted by the Primordial Thunder Crow Great Emperor leading a Demon Race Grand Luo to cause trouble, Lyra Jiang's Ascension [the act of breaking through to a higher realm of cultivation] to Grand Luo proceeded without any such disturbances.

This was not only due to the awe-inspiring power Lyra Jiang had displayed during the Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that tests an immortal's cultivation and destiny], but also stemmed from a profound sense of respect.

Indeed, during Eldrin Chen's banquet, the gazes of those Late Great Luo Golden Immortal [a Grand Luo Golden Immortal in the later stages of that realm] and beings at the Grand Luo Perfection stage were filled primarily with appreciation.

This time, however, Eldrin Chen perceived a different quality in the eyes of the assembled immortals—a gaze of genuine respect.

A reputation precedes its bearer like a great tree casts its shadow. In ages past, the status of the Lunar Emperor Lord was one of such supreme reverence and might that even the Primordial Thunder Crow Great Emperor dared not show disrespect in her presence.

Even though the Lunar Emperor Lord had now been reborn, her cultivation having only just entered the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, the assembled immortals understood that her growth was inevitable. They knew she would, at the very least, once again ascend to the realm of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a sovereign who commands the fundamental forces of the primordial chaos].

Unless the Solar Celestial Emperor [the supreme ruler of the solar domain] gains the power to suppress a combined force of the Human and Divine races, no one will be able to hinder the rise of Lyra Jiang.

Not to mention these Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal realm], even those Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [rulers who have attained the Chaos Emperor realm] treat Lyra Jiang with exceptional courtesy, interacting with her as an equal and not daring to show the slightest arrogance.

By association, even Eldrin Chen has, in an intangible way, been elevated by a generation in status.

Furthermore, on this occasion of Lyra Jiang's Ascension [the act of transcending to a higher realm] to Grand Luo [the Grand Luo realm], not only did the Sage-King of the Grand Abyss and the Primordial Beginning Dao Ancestor [the progenitor of the Primordial Beginning lineage] send congratulatory gifts, but even the Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor and the Purple Tenuity Divine Emperor [the Divine Emperor who rules the Purple Tenuity constellation] had gifts delivered on their behalf.

The value of these four gifts aside, the significance they represent is entirely different.

For four beings of the Chaos Divine Emperor [a supreme ruler who has mastered the power of primordial chaos] level to send gifts signifies that Lyra Jiang has gained the recognition of these four paramount powers.

Given the prestige of these four, while they might not intervene to bully the weak, they would certainly never permit the Solar Celestial Emperor to turn hostile.

It seemed precisely because of this that some individuals within the crowd, who had originally harbored ulterior motives, finally withdrew their gazes.

"These people…"

Sensing the shift in their attitudes, Eldrin Chen quietly withdrew his spiritual perception.

He turned his gaze toward Lyra Jiang, a soft smile gracing his lips as he murmured, "In this fleeting moment, it feels as if I have returned to those bygone years—a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, sheltered under your wing through the most perilous of times."

Upon hearing this, Lyra Jiang could not help but reveal a trace of nostalgic remembrance.

The most arduous period of Eldrin Chen's life was not his battles against the Calamity Demon God, nor was it facing formidable foes during the great cataclysms, the Dao Tribulation [a trial of one's comprehension of the Dao], or the Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth]. It was, in truth, the first century of his existence.

In those days, his cultivation was merely at the Foundation Establishment realm, his strength utterly insufficient. Yet, he faced the formidable enemy that was the Verdant Sun Sect, coupled with the terrifying turmoil of the beast tide. One could say each step forward was fraught with peril.

Had it not been for the protection of Lyra Jiang, he likely would not have survived that most dangerous century.

Later, when Eldrin Chen's cultivation caught up to and surpassed Lyra Jiang's, and his power gradually reached profound, heaven-defying levels, there were far fewer moments of such precarious, day-to-day survival.

In the vast expanse of time that followed, it was Eldrin Chen who, for the most part, held up the sky for her.

Remembering this, Lyra Jiang's eyes sparkled with a playful light as she teased, "Then, call me Jiang the Ancient Ancestor once more."

Time flows like a river, rushing eastward never to return.

Gazing across the vast chasm of one hundred and ten million years of Space-Time [the fabric of reality encompassing spatial dimensions and the flow of time], that same address—Jiang the Ancient Ancestor—now carried a meaning profoundly different from what it once held.