Chapter 1926 : Fates Rewoven in Starlight

One after another, the spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things] of ancient realms began to stir and recover. Upon countless stars, myriad beings once again set foot upon the path of cultivation.

Throughout these times, there were those who awakened bearing memories, as if having foreseen something in the unfathomable depths of fate.

Eldrin Chen reposed upon the highest heavens, his countenance serene as he observed this unfolding tapestry, a faint smile gracing his lips.

In aiding the revival of the boundless Multidimensional Space-Time, he had, in passing, divined the destinies of Weilai across myriads of worlds, glimpsing the fates of countless souls within those realms and stars.

During this process, Eldrin Chen discovered that among them, a rare few individuals—their Weilai selves—had displayed not insignificant talent and genius. Each had contributed to the refinement of the Path of Self-Sacrifice, yet all had met untimely ends due to various tribulations.

Thus, Eldrin Chen casually returned the memories belonging to these individuals' Weilai selves, gleaned from his divinations.

Suddenly receiving memories of Weilai, these souls might deem it a vivid dream, or believe themselves to have returned via Rebirth [a form of reincarnation where one retains memories of a past life].

Yet, the moment they witnessed the descent of the Chaos Stele, they understood their destinies had been irrevocably altered.

"Great Emperors reborn, Immortal Kings reincarnated... most intriguing," he mused.

Eldrin Chen allowed himself a soft chuckle before, in an instant, withdrawing his consciousness back to the present.

In a single moment, Eldrin altered the arduous fate of this select few, granting them the chance to reshape their own destinies in Weilai. This was but a passing whim for Eldrin Chen.

"I hope that one day, I may see you young ones within the Immortal Domain."

With this thought gradually receding, Eldrin Chen once more entered a state of Restoration and secluded cultivation.

In the years that followed, Eldrin Chen spent his time refining the Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill and the Primordial Soul-Nourishing Wood. Time flowed by in this manner, and before he knew it, millions upon millions of years had passed.

It was not until over ten million years later that Eldrin Chen slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of pleasant surprise within their depths.

"The Path of Self-Sacrifice is finally complete!"

After nearly two hundred million years of development, the number of Cosmos Realm powerhouses within the Path of Self-Sacrifice had finally surpassed three thousand.

It must be understood that with the birth of each new Cosmos Realm powerhouse, the Path of Self-Sacrifice would be perfected a step further. Now, with over three thousand Cosmos Realm mighty ones born from its principles, the Path had undergone its final metamorphosis, transforming into a true Innate-Grade Great Dao.

As the Dao Progenitor of this Great Dao and the master who grasped its path, Eldrin Chen instantly felt the power bestowed by the Path of Self-Sacrifice.

As the master who grasps a Great Dao, one can Eruption its complete and unadulterated power. The strength this can bring is utterly staggering.

Even if this Path of Self-Sacrifice merely represents the initial threshold of a Primordial Great Dao [the most fundamental and supreme laws of existence], making it the weakest form of such a Dao, it could still bestow upon Eldrin Chen a staggering augmentation of power.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, if he were to fully mobilize the power of the Path of Self-Sacrifice, the strength he could unleash should be sufficient to rival that of a Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal [a mid-stage cultivator within the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm].

And this was merely the threshold of a Primordial Great Dao. The Great Daos are divided into three categories: Innate, Chaos, and Primordial Chaos [the primordial state of undifferentiated existence before the cosmos formed].

Among them, the Primordial Great Dao stands supreme and peerless. The Chaos Great Dao represents power on the level of a Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage [a supreme being who has comprehended the fundamental principles of the Dao]. Once one masters a complete Chaos Great Dao, they can prove their Dao and ascend to become a Chaos Celestial Emperor.

As for the Primordial Great Dao, based on their potency and level of perfection, they are further divided into five tiers: Initial Entry, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, Perfection, and the Boundless [Wuji] stage.

Among these, the Initial Entry tier is the weakest, representing a Great Dao that has only just taken form. Although such a Dao is the most feeble, if one were to master it completely, it could grant power equivalent to a Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Generally speaking, such nascent Great Daos at the Initial Entry level are refined and perfected step by step from Laws, Rules, and Dao Principles [fundamental truths of cultivation]. Typically, the authority over such a Dao is shared by no more than two or three Grand Luo Golden Immortal [cultivators at the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm]. To advance it further requires the continuous refinement and perfection of the Dao itself.

The Minor Accomplishment tier of Primordial Great Dao is considered a relatively weak form of Primordial Great Dao.

Such Daos are often highly esoteric and specialized, with very few Immortal [beings who have achieved immortality] choosing to cultivate them. Consequently, the pace of their evolution and refinement is exceedingly slow. Generally, the number of Grand Luo Golden Immortal who cultivate such Daos is also small, ranging from a mere handful to perhaps several dozen at most.

However, if one could fully master a Minor Accomplishment-tier Great Dao, the power it would confer would be truly formidable.

Once one masters a Great Dao [the fundamental laws and principles of the cosmos] of this level, one can attain the cultivation base and realm of Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection. However, if the Great Dao has not reached the Grand Completion stage, it ultimately remains incomplete, making it impossible to step into the realm of Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch.

Beyond that, a Primordial Great Dao at the Grand Completion level is already an astonishingly profound achievement.

A Great Dao that has reached Grand Completion possesses terrifying power. Such a level of Dao has been refined and perfected by the collective efforts of at least several dozen Grand Luo Golden Immortal cultivators.

If anyone could fully grasp and command a Grand Completion-level Primordial Great Dao, they would be able to directly ascend to the realm of Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch.

Of course, the Great Daos at the Initial Entry, Minor Completion, and Grand Completion stages are all considered incomplete Primordial Great Dao. Even if one masters such a Dao, they cannot rely on it to attempt a breakthrough to the Chaos Celestial Emperor realm. Therefore, few Grand Luo Golden Immortal cultivate Great Daos at these three levels.

Only a Great Dao at the Perfect Completion level can be called a True Seed of a Primordial Unity Celestial Emperor, coveted and pursued by countless Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

Yvonne the Violet Consort's Dutian Violet Flame and Lila's Frost Soul Great Dao are both Great Daos of this Perfect Completion level. The number of Grand Luo Golden Immortal cultivating such Great Daos can be said to number in the thousands upon thousands.

Any Grand Luo Golden Immortal who can grasp just three percent of the authority over such a Perfect Completion Great Dao can reach the realm of Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch.

If one can obtain over thirty percent of the authority over a Perfect Completion Great Dao, their cultivation base will be sufficient to reach the late stage of Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch, with the most exceptional among them even attaining the Great Perfection of Primordial Emperor Lord.

If one can fully command a Perfect Completion Primordial Great Dao, they may be called a Sage Ascendant, a Quasi-Celestial Emperor, or a Half-Step Divine Emperor.

Since time immemorial, those capable of mastering a perfected Primordial Great Dao [the supreme, foundational laws of the primordial cosmos] have been figures of peerless, eternal might. They need only obtain a single wisp of Chaos Primordial Qi [the primordial breath of chaos, the source of all creation] to attempt the ascension to the realm of a Chaos Celestial Emperor [a sovereign who commands the very laws of chaos].

Of course, the metamorphosis of a Primordial Great Dao into a Chaos Great Dao [a Dao Law that has ascended to the chaotic origin] carries the risk of failure.

Depending on the completeness and potency of the Primordial Great Dao, the success rate for this breakthrough varies between one and three tenths, with the highest probability of successful transformation never exceeding three tenths.

Should one fail, not only is a precious wisp of Chaos Primordial Qi wasted, but it is highly likely to result in the Dao fracturing and the cultivator perishing, reducing countless eons of arduous cultivation by a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle immortal realm before the celestial emperor stage] to utter nothingness.

Yet beyond the perfected state lies the true Boundless Great Dao [a Dao Law that has transcended the Primordial level but has not yet fused with Chaos Primordial Qi].

This so-called Boundless Great Dao refers to supreme Dao Laws that have already surpassed the level of a Primordial Great Dao, yet have not merged with Chaos Primordial Qi.

The Great Daos cultivated by Eldrin Chen—such as the Pure Yang Heavenly Fire [the divine flame of pure yang], the Profound Nether True Water [the abyssal waters of profound yin], the Life Great Dao [the Dao Law of life and vitality], the Source of All Things Earth [the foundational earth from which all things spring], and the Primordial Ancient Metal [the primordial metal of antiquity]—all belong to this exalted tier.

For such a Primordial Boundless Great Dao [a Boundless Great Dao born from the Primordial Chaos], once one masters its complete Dao Authority [sovereign command over a specific Dao Law], and then merges it with Chaos Primordial Qi, its transformation into a Chaos Great Dao carries almost no risk of failure.

Furthermore, once such a Great Dao metamorphoses into a Chaos Great Dao, its future potential becomes utterly terrifying, placing it among the foremost even amidst other Chaos Great Daos.

It is precisely for this reason that a Boundless Great Dao often becomes the object of covetous scrutiny by the Chaos Celestial Emperors themselves.

Among the five Primordial Great Dao [the supreme and fundamental paths of cultivation] cultivated by Eldrin Chen, each one is concurrently practiced by at least two or three Chaos Celestial Emperor [supreme beings who have mastered the laws of primordial chaos].

Even the Primordial Chaos Gold Great Dao [the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos Gold], which has the fewest concurrent practitioners, has its Dao Authority [the authority and control over a specific Dao] originating from two Chaos Celestial Emperor. Each of these two holds three-tenths of its authority, leaving no hope for any later cultivator to prove their Dao through this path.

It is said that for the Boundless Great Dao [the Great Dao of Boundlessness], mastering merely one-thousandth of its authority is enough to directly step into the realm of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [an Emperor Monarch who rules over a domain of primordial chaos]. This illustrates just how immensely powerful and extraordinary such a Great Dao is.

"Although I have grasped my Dao, the road to breaking through to the Chaos Dao Progenitor [the progenitor who originated the Dao of Chaos] realm via the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a cultivation path built upon the principle of profound personal sacrifice] remains long and arduous,"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, gazing upon the initially formed Path of Self-Sacrifice, before letting out a sigh of relief a moment later.

The Path of Self-Sacrifice is a Primordial Great Dao that has only just entered its initial stage. Logically, perfecting such a Dao should be exceptionally difficult.

For the strong grow ever stronger. Only the most powerful Great Daos attract the pursuit of countless Grand Luo Golden Immortal [Golden Immortals of the Grand Luo realm, near the pinnacle of cultivation]. Any Grand Luo Golden Immortal with true ambition would not devote themselves to cultivating a Dao that is merely in its nascent form.

Those beings who aspire to impact the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm, or even the Chaos Celestial Emperor realm, will almost invariably choose a Dao that has reached the Perfected or Complete level.

Only by further perfecting a Primordial Great Dao that has already reached the Perfected level—ideally pushing its evolution to the Limitless tier—does one gain a greater possibility of impacting the Chaos Celestial Emperor realm.

Consequently, a Dao in its initial stage, with almost no one cultivating it, typically progresses at a glacial pace.

After all, no matter how exceptional the talent of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle of cultivation, a being of immense power and enlightenment] might be, the efforts of a single individual can scarcely compare to the collective contributions of thousands or even tens of thousands of Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle of cultivation, a being of immense power and enlightenment] laying bricks and tiles for a grand edifice.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen's Path of Self-Sacrifice [a unique cultivation art focused on sacrifice and empowering others] was fundamentally different. This path allowed others to break through to the Great Luo Realm [the realm of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal]. Every being who ascended to the Cosmos [the Cosmos Realm, a profound state of existence] through the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a unique cultivation art focused on sacrifice and empowering others] was, in essence, contributing to the fortification and expansion of this great Dao [the fundamental principle or path].

At least before the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a unique cultivation art focused on sacrifice and empowering others] reached its minor completion, the insights and experiences of these Cosmos Realm [beings who have attained the Cosmos Realm] cultivators played a pivotal and indispensable role in its refinement and perfection.

However, after the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a unique cultivation art focused on sacrifice and empowering others] achieved minor completion, to advance further and step into the realm of major completion would require Eldrin Chen himself to continue perfecting the cultivation methods of this great Dao [the fundamental principle or path].

If one day Eldrin Chen could create a Path of Self-Sacrifice [a unique cultivation art focused on sacrifice and empowering others] cultivation method that led to the Great Luo Realm [the realm of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal], then the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a unique cultivation art focused on sacrifice and empowering others] would directly ascend to the state of major completion.

If he could perfect a method to break through to the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a sovereign ruler within the primordial chaos], this great Dao [the fundamental principle or path] would achieve ultimate perfection. Yet, for it to undergo a complete metamorphosis into a Boundless Great Dao [a Dao without limits or boundaries], he would still need to devise a method to ascend to the Chaos Celestial Emperor [the Celestial Emperor of Chaos, a supreme ruler].

Once that stage was reached, the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a unique cultivation art focused on sacrifice and empowering others] would become a cultivation path on par with Sainthood through the Flesh [the path of achieving sainthood through physical perfection] and Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment [attaining the Dao through the Primordial Spirit]. Its power, even among the Chaos Great Dao [the Great Daos of Chaos], could be hailed as a Chaos Limitless Great Dao [a Limitless Great Dao of Chaos].

"A Chaos Limitless Great Dao [a Limitless Great Dao of Chaos]... it seems to be the foundation for stepping into the Third Chaos Realm [the Third Realm of Chaos],"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his thoughts drifting to the origins of the Three Realms of Chaos.

Chaos is without limit, cycling endlessly with no discernible The End [the ultimate conclusion or terminus]; therefore, Chaos is described as boundless, infinite, and without shore.

Therefore, the Chaos [the primordial state before creation] possesses three realms: the first realm, 'Grasping the Dao' [mastery over a fundamental cosmic principle]; the second realm, 'Dao Merging' [the profound fusion of one's being with the Dao]; and the third realm, 'Boundless' [the state of ultimate limitlessness].

Ancient lore whispers that an innate Boundless Great Dao [a supreme cosmic principle of infinite potential] is the nascent form of the Chaos Limitless Great Dao [the ultimate principle of limitless chaos]. To master a complete Boundless Great Dao is to hold within oneself a sliver of potential pointing directly toward that third realm.

"Looking ahead, I must continue to refine the cultivation method of the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a profound cultivation art centered on selfless devotion and offering],"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, then suppressed the thought.

He had not yet cultivated to the perfection of the Grand Luo [the Great Luo Realm, a pinnacle stage of cultivation]. His comprehension of the Great Luo Realm was still insufficient; attempting to create a Great Luo Realm cultivation method for the Path of Self-Sacrifice now would be far too presumptuous.

Lest he craft a flawed and clumsy great path, it was better to accumulate more foundational depth. He would wait for descendants who reached the Cosmos Realm [a profound realm of cosmic awareness] to continue perfecting the finer details of the Path of Self-Sacrifice. Only with sufficient foundation and groundwork would he then undertake the creation of the Great Luo Realm cultivation method for the Path of Self-Sacrifice.

Thus, Eldrin Chen set aside his thoughts and resumed his secluded cultivation.

This time, Eldrin Chen did not enter closed-door meditation. He directly retrieved a Great Luo Immortal Pill [a supreme elixir that refines the essence of the Great Luo Realm] and began refining it.

Only three Great Luo Immortal Pill can be refined within a single Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration, often involving great tribulations]. Several million years had passed since Eldrin Chen last refined one. Feeling his foundational core [the core foundation of a cultivator's power] was now stable, the time for another breakthrough had come.

"Since breaking through to the second layer of the Great Luo Body [a physique tempered by the power of the Great Luo Realm], I have refined two Great Luo Immortal Pill and assimilated the power of over seven hundred thousand Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill [high-grade elixirs that circulate spiritual energy ten times for profound effect]."

"My accumulation is now sufficient; it is time to make another breakthrough."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, then swallowed the Great Luo Immortal Pill once more and began his cultivation of the Great Luo Body [the pinnacle physical form achievable by an immortal].

"Boom—"

Upon consuming the Great Luo Immortal Pill, Eldrin Chen immediately felt a vast surge of Grand Luo [the supreme immortal realm] origin essence flood his body.

The immense origin power belonging to the Celestial Ox Demon God filled Eldrin Chen's form, instantly pushing his physical strength to its absolute limit.

Seizing the moment, Eldrin Chen activated the Root Origin Treasure [a foundational magical artifact] within him—the 'Abyssal Furnace' [a divine technique for refining essence]. In an instant, that colossal power was refined into pure origin essence, beginning to nourish and fortify Eldrin Chen's physical body.

"Break through for me!"

Eldrin Chen urged through gritted teeth. The origin power he had accumulated over many years was instantly ignited, and his already-perfected body, pushed to its very limits, shattered the final bottleneck.

In that moment, all the power stored from refining the Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill and the Great Luo Immortal Pill surged forth, voraciously absorbed by his Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body [a legendary physique of unbreakable chaos origin].

When all finally settled into tranquility, Eldrin Chen slowly opened his eyes, a faint smile glimmering within their depths.

He sensed his physical body and discovered that after this breakthrough, the power of his Great Luo Body had increased by more than fifty percent.

Before the breakthrough, Eldrin Chen's strength, relying solely on his Great Luo Body, was already comparable to the combat power of a fourth-level Grand Luo Golden Immortal. Now, after breaking through once more, his physical strength alone was sufficient to contend with a fifth-level Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

"The Third Layer of Great Luo Physique, yet it can wrestle with a fifth-level Grand Luo Golden Immortal."

Eldrin Chen murmured, a faint smile flickering in the depths of his eyes.

If he encountered that Crimson Mastiff Demon Lord now, he would not even need to rely on his magic power, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], or the power of the Great Dao. His physical body alone would hold no fear of the opponent.

"The path of Sainthood through the Flesh is indeed extraordinary. However, taking the next step forward will likely be..."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of solemnity appearing on his face.

He realized that after this breakthrough to the Third Layer of Great Luo Physique, the "barrel" that was his Chaos Indestructible Body had expanded once more. Furthermore, the efficacy of refining the Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill had diminished considerably again.

Given these circumstances, to cultivate his body to a state of perfection once more would require at least three million Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill.

Moreover, for his Great Luo Body to break through to the fourth layer, besides requiring the Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light, there was a crucial bottleneck that needed to be overcome. Relying solely on the Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill would be insufficient to shatter this barrier.

Numerous treasures exist that can break through the bottleneck of the Great Luo Body [the ultimate physical form achievable by cultivators]. Among the most common is the Great Golden Immortal Pill [a supreme elixir for body refinement], which within the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of the immortal realm] is valued at five strands of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a primordial, unbreakable essence of spiritual energy].

"It is said the Great Golden Immortal Pill is refined from the Innate Great Golden Immortal Bamboo Shoot [a primordial spiritual bamboo sprout of supreme quality]," Eldrin Chen murmured, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.

As for this Innate Great Golden Immortal Bamboo Shoot, Eldrin Chen actually possessed a method to resolve its scarcity.

This was because the Innate Great Golden Immortal Bamboo Shoot was itself an innate Great Luo Rare Treasure [a treasure of the highest order in the Great Luo realm] born from a Primordial Gold Bamboo [an ancient, spiritually potent golden bamboo] that had undergone metamorphosis to its absolute limit.

Legend held that a supreme-grade innate Primordial Gold Bamboo, upon reaching the pinnacle of its Ascension [the process of spiritual evolution and breakthrough], had a chance to metamorphose into a Great Luo Golden Bamboo [a golden bamboo of the Great Luo realm]. That Great Luo Golden Bamboo was itself a Great Luo Rare Treasure.

Furthermore, if one infused Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light into a Great Luo Golden Bamboo, the bamboo would undergo Nirvana Rebirth [a divine ability representing death and glorious rebirth], transforming into the Innate Spiritual Root [a cultivator's innate spiritual foundation] known as the 'Innate Great Golden Immortal Bamboo Shoot'.

Yet the Innate Great Golden Immortal Bamboo Shoot was exceedingly rare. Even a Great Luo Ancient Sect [an ancient sect from the primordial Great Luo era], spending thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of creation and destruction] and wasting several strands of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light, might not necessarily succeed in cultivating a single shoot.

Most crucially, a single stalk of Innate Great Golden Immortal Bamboo Shoot could only be refined into one Great Golden Immortal Pill.

It was precisely for these reasons that the innate Great Golden Immortal Pill commanded an astronomically high value. Each pill that appeared in the world could be sold for a princely sum.