Chapter 1887 : Confrontation at the Heavenly Altar

"A favor?"

Upon hearing this, Heaven Punishment allowed a faint smile to touch the corner of his lips, yet he remained silent.

Seeing this, Violet Radiance Sword Extreme spoke up, "Since you have achieved your breakthrough, Fellow Daoist, let us set forth."

Eldrin Chen also nodded in agreement and immediately strode forward.

Subsequently, the group of eight continued their journey along the ancient path. Unbeknownst to them, they traversed the Vast and Boundless Chaos and drew near the heart of the endless Chaos Heaven Abyss.

By this time, they had already been treading the depths of the Chaos Abyss for over a hundred thousand years.

Just as they approached the central region of the Chaos Heaven Abyss, they witnessed a group of Ancient Immortals fleeing back towards them. Each bore expressions of terror and despair, as if they had encountered some unimaginable and unstoppable horror.

The companions exchanged glances. Violet Radiance Sword Extreme stepped forward and blocked the path of one of the fleeing figures, demanding, "What has transpired ahead? Why such panic?"

The man's face was a mask of sheer terror. Recognizing Violet Radiance Sword Extreme, he seemed to relax slightly and gasped out, "The Heavenly Emperor's Altar [a legendary platform for ascension and divine communion] at the heart of the Chaos Heaven Abyss is about to open. The fiends from the Northern Abyss Foreign Realm have seized the initiative."

"His Excellency Imperial Confucian led us to contest it, but he was defeated head-on by a Flame Fiend God from their ranks. Our losses... they were grievous." Access the full story on audio-novel .c om.

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but frown slightly, a crease forming between his brows.

It turned out that not long before, Imperial Confucian, Limitless Nine Radiance Divine Lord, and Saint-Demon Celestial Lord had arrived near the Chaos Heaven Abyss ahead of the others. There, upon the Ascension Platform, they had engaged in a preliminary clash with the forces from the Outer Realms.

The result of that single battle was that Imperial Confucian was nearly slain, surviving only thanks to the intervention and aid of Saint-Demon Celestial Lord and the others.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen did not hesitate for a moment. He immediately transformed into a streak of light and shot deep into the Chaos Heaven path. Seeing this, the rest of the group quickly followed suit.

Their speed was extreme. Before long, they had traversed the Chaos Heaven Abyss and arrived at the very Central heart of the Endless Chaos.

There, at the Central core of the Chaos Heaven Abyss, a majestic Ancient Continent drifted and floated. Its expanse was boundless and immeasurable, rivaling even the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent in sheer scale.

"This is one of the seven fragments of the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain, and also the very core of the Ancient Path of the Heaven Abyss,"

Violet Radiance Sword Extreme murmured, gazing upon this Ancient Continent with a trace of solemn gravity coloring his expression.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of agreement, then spoke. "Let us proceed first to the Heavenly Emperor's Altar."

With those words, he stepped directly into the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain and flew straight towards the Heavenly Emperor's Altar.

When Eldrin Chen arrived at the Heavenly Emperor's Altar [the sacred platform where the Heavenly Emperor once performed rituals], he found its periphery occupied by a group of foreign Ancient Immortal [cultivators who have transcended mortality and achieved immortality in ancient times]. Not far away were several hundred Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal [Ancient Immortals who have survived eight heavenly tribulations] from the Southern Abyss Seven Domains.

Among these Ancient Immortal, the leaders were the Saint-Demon Celestial Lord [a title meaning 'Lord of Sacred and Demonic'], along with the Limitless Nine Radiance Divine Lord [a title meaning 'Divine Lord of Boundless Ninefold Radiance'] and others.

Seeing Eldrin Chen and his companions arrive, these individuals visibly relaxed. The Limitless Nine Radiance Divine Lord immediately spoke, "The Heavenly Emperor's Altar is about to open. If you had arrived any later, this place would have been completely seized by the other side."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly. Heaven Punishment spoke up at the opportune moment, "The so-called Heavenly Emperor's Altar is the former Heavenly Emperor's Path-Field [the personal cultivation ground of the Heavenly Emperor] from the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain."

"Legends say it contains Opportunity and Fortune [chances and blessings of great significance] left behind by the Heavenly Emperor [the supreme sovereign ruler of the heavens] of the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain. Although it has been thoroughly scavenged by various Path Ancestors more than once, for the Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal present here, it remains a rare and precious cultivation site."

"A precious cultivation site?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered, revealing a trace of surprise.

Violet Radiance Sword Extreme also spoke, his expression grave. "This place contains the Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence [the condensed, fundamental essence of the Heavenly Emperor's cultivation path]. A predestined individual who cultivates here and obtains a wisp of this essence can undergo a complete metamorphosis."

"Even for prodigies like us with True Spirit Foundation [a supreme cultivation foundation based on one's innate True Spirit], obtaining a wisp of the Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence can slightly increase our chances of successfully cultivating the True Spirit Foundation."

At this point, Violet Radiance Sword Extreme added, "However, one must ascend the Heavenly Emperor's Altar itself to have any chance of gaining recognition from the Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence. Otherwise, no matter how talented one is, it is impossible to obtain it."

"Moreover, the Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence is limited, with a maximum of one hundred and eight spots available on the platform at any one time."

"It seems a battle is unavoidable."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, his gaze calm as he looked towards the front of the Heavenly Emperor's Altar.

Before the Heavenly Emperor's Altar stood thousands of formidable powerhouses from the Outer Realms. Each radiated an extraordinary and powerful aura; among them were not a few who had achieved the Indestructibility Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage focused on achieving an unbreakable physical and spiritual constitution], making their collective strength truly formidable.

At the forefront of this multitude, twelve individuals stood out as exceptionally powerful, all having cultivated the True Spirit Foundation [a foundational cultivation art that refines one's spirit to its purest, truest form].

Violet Radiance Sword Extreme murmured quietly, turning to Eldrin Chen. "I imagine you don't know many of them. Allow me to make the introductions." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio~novel.com.

"Among these Outer Realms, the True Demon Primordial Domain and the Chaos Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Domain are the most powerful, having produced the greatest number of prodigies. Six of these twelve hail from these two domains."

"As for the Myriad Demons Primordial Domain, the Chaos Blazing Glory Domain, the Chaos Nether Frost Domain, and the Evil Spirit Primordial Domain, each has produced no more than four or five Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a title for supreme rulers who have mastered the primordial chaos], placing their overall strength a notch below."

As Violet Radiance Sword Extreme continued his introductions, Eldrin Chen quickly gained a basic understanding of these twelve True Spirit Prodigy [individuals born with a constitution of pure, unadulterated spiritual essence] from the Outer Realms.

Among these Six Domains of the Northern Abyss, the True Demon Primordial Domain was the strongest. This lineage boasted a full ten Chaos Demon Sovereign [supreme lords among demons who command the power of primordial chaos], its depth and power truly unfathomable.

The Chaos Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Domain [a primordial domain of chaos and thunder tribulations] falls slightly short, possessing seven Chaos Primordial God [supreme beings born from primordial chaos]. It is said the progenitor of this lineage once single-handedly defeated four Chaos Heavenly Emperor [Emperors born of Chaos] working in concert, making it a force second only to the Outer Realm Demon Emperor [a supreme ruler of demons from beyond the known realms].

The Evil Spirit Primordial Domain [a domain ruled by malevolent spirits] ranks third, with five heretical Chaos Heavenly Emperor. The Primordial Domain [a generic term for a primordial realm] known as the Myriad Demons Primordial Domain [the domain of countless demons] ranks fourth, guarded by four Chaos Demon Sovereign [Sovereigns of Chaos-aligned demons].

The Chaos Blazing Glory Domain [a domain of chaotic, blazing radiance] and the Chaos Nether Frost Domain [a domain of chaotic, nether frost] are roughly equal in strength, each having only a single Chaos Primordial God to suppress their Fortune [destiny or providence], yet the power of both should not be underestimated.

Among the twelve prodigies from the Six Domains of the Northern Abyss [the six primordial domains of the Northern Abyss] this time, four possess a single True Spirit Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage based on a True Spirit]. They are: 'Primal Shadow' [the Primordial Shadow] and 'Demon Sun' [the Demonic Sun] from the True Demon Primordial Domain [the domain of true demons]; 'Soul-Refiner' [the Soul-Refiner] from the Myriad Demons Primordial Domain; and 'Thunderfire Holy Spirit' [the Thunderfire Holy Spirit] from the Chaos Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Domain.

There are three with dual True Spirit Foundation: 'Earth Lunar' [the Earthly Lunar] and 'Heavenly Fiend' [the Heavenly Fiend] from the Evil Spirit Primordial Domain, and 'Soul-Extinguishing Child' [the Soul-Extinguishing Child] from the Myriad Demons Primordial Domain.

There are also four with Three True Spirit Foundations [a foundation built upon three True Spirits]: 'Blazing Prison Saint Lord' [the Blazing Prison Saint Lord] from the Chaos Blazing Glory Domain; 'Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit' [the Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit] from the Chaos Nether Frost Domain; 'Thunder Extreme Holy Spirit' [the Thunder Extreme Holy Spirit] from the Chaos Heavenly Thunder Tribulation Domain; and 'Heaven-Slaying Demon Monarch' [the Heaven-Slaying Demon Monarch] from the True Demon Primordial Domain.

The strength of these eleven individuals marked them as unparalleled geniuses, the likes of which had not been seen since antiquity. Yet, none could stir a sense of awe within Eldrin Chen.

What truly gave Eldrin Chen pause, presenting a genuine challenge, was the final and most supreme figure among them.

That person was clad in robes white as snow, with features of such peerless beauty they seemed not of the Mortal Dust [the mundane world]. He stood there in serene stillness, like the very Central [axis or center] of the Chaos [primordial disorder] and the Universe [the ordered cosmos].

"You have come."

The White-robed Man murmured softly, looking at Eldrin Chen with a faint smile. "I have been waiting for you for a long time."

"It's him... wasn't he supposed to be dead?"

The moment he saw this figure, Violet Radiance Sword Extreme's expression shifted slightly, a trace of shock flashing across his face.

Eldrin Chen frowned slightly and asked, "What is his background?"

"During the Late Primordial Era, he was known as the foremost expert among the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm—the Three Souls Imperial Lord."

Violet Radiance Sword Extreme explained, his countenance grave. "Even back in the Primordial Era, he had already cultivated to the Great Perfection Primordial One Imperial Lord level. Legend has it he was the Treasure Spirit [the sentient consciousness of a supreme magical artifact] of the Primordial Chaos Three Souls Scripture who took physical form. He was a prodigious genius of the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] lineage, unparalleled in all the ages."

"The Path Ancestor Taihu once intended to guide him onto the Path, but he refused, stating his ambition was to prove himself as a Soul Path Heavenly Emperor."

"Later, for reasons unknown, he vanished into the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation]. Who would have thought he would now have fallen into the Demonic Path [the cultivation path of demons and malevolent beings] and even reincarnated to cultivate anew, reaching the Eighth Tribulation Ancient Immortal Realm."

As Violet Radiance Sword Extreme recounted the tale, Eldrin Chen quickly grasped the identity of the man before him.

It turned out this man was the Treasure Spirit that had escaped after the Primordial Chaos Three Souls Scripture split into the Heaven, Earth, and Man Tomes. He had embarked on his own cultivation journey. His talent in the Primordial Spirit Dao was truly peerless, allowing him to cultivate all the way to the Great Perfection Primordial One Imperial Lord realm.

Yet now, for reasons unknown, he had reincarnated and embarked upon the Demonic Path [a cultivation path that embraces dark and destructive energies], encountering Eldrin Chen once more.

"So it is the reincarnation of a Chaos Spiritual Treasure Embryo [the nascent form of a supreme artifact born from primordial chaos]," he remarked. "No wonder you recognize this venerable one."

His identity laid bare by Violet Radiance Sword Extreme, Three Souls Imperial Lord showed no surprise. He had once been the Treasure Spirit [the sentient consciousness of a powerful magical artifact] of a complete Chaos Spiritual Artifact [an artifact of ultimate power forged in the primordial chaos]. Compared to him, Violet Radiance Sword Extreme was but a mere child.

Yet, as Three Souls Imperial Lord gazed upon Eldrin Chen, a flicker of appreciation shone in his eyes. He gave a slight nod and said, "This venerable one did not hesitate to undergo Reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new body to cultivate anew] and waited through countless Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years], all to finally meet the person I have sought."

"What formidable True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a divine ability manifesting one's spiritual core with the power of a True Spirit]. You truly live up to your reputation as a heaven-defying prodigy. By devouring your Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator], the foundation for this venerable one to achieve the Soul Path Heavenly Emperor [a supreme realm of mastery over the soul and spirit] shall be firmly laid."

With those words, a faint smile played on the lips of Three Souls Imperial Lord as he looked at Eldrin Chen. With a mere flick of his sleeve, he unleashed a palm strike meant to suppress everything before him.

"Not good!"

A sense of profound dread washed over Eldrin Chen. He immediately channeled all his power into the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand [a divine ability that manifests a giant hand of primordial energy] to block. Yet, he was sent flying backward by a torrent of overwhelming Heavenly God [a powerful cultivation realm] force.

This Three Souls Imperial Lord possessed talent rare even across the eons. The combat power he displayed with a single move surpassed the limits of those with Four True Spirit Foundations [a cultivation art establishing a foundation with four True Spirits], even reaching the level of one with Five True Spirit Foundations [the legendary pinnacle of foundation establishment with five True Spirits].

"Be careful!"

Witnessing this scene, Nether Phoenix [the Imperial Princess of the Nether Phoenix lineage] cried out with a face drained of color, "The method of the Primordial Chaos Three Souls Scripture [a supreme demonic art that seizes the three souls of a being] steals a person's Heaven Earth and Human Souls [the three fundamental spiritual components of a living being: the Heavenly Soul, Earthly Soul, and Human Soul]. The Demonic Path [the cultivation path that embraces ruthless and predatory methods] can plunder one's foundational potential. Combined, they can devour your very foundation and accumulated essence to empower the caster!"

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] felt a tremor of profound shock in his heart. He immediately mustered all his strength, channeling his four True Spirit Foundation [a supreme cultivation foundation that grants access to True Spirit-level divine abilities] to resist. Chaos Divine Thunder [divine lightning born from primordial chaos], Chaos Unity Energy [a primordial energy that unifies all forces], and Five-Colored Divine Light [a brilliant light containing the power of the five elements] clashed fiercely against the onslaught. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged over thirty blows.

"Three True Spirit Aperture [the spiritual apertures within a cultivator that house True Spirit-level divine abilities]! Excellent, truly excellent!"

Three Souls Imperial Lord [a powerful reincarnated cultivator] revealed a look of ecstatic surprise. Using the secret arts of the Primordial Chaos Three Souls Scripture, he had preserved a portion of his previous life's foundation before undergoing Reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new body, often with retained memories or cultivation]. Though he currently possessed only the cultivation of an eight-tribulation Ancient Immortal Realm [a high realm of immortal cultivation], he astonishingly had six True Spirit Aperture, granting him command over six distinct True Spirit Divine Ability [divine abilities of the highest True Spirit grade].

Now, as Three Souls Imperial Lord poured his full power into the assault, six True Spirit Divine Ability erupted across the heavens and earth. Each strike carried the power to annihilate all creation, forcefully suppressing Eldrin Chen, driving him back step by step.

In less than a hundred exchanges, Eldrin Chen was forced into a desperate, retreating defense.

"Damnation!"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted wildly. This Three Souls Imperial Lord focused solely on his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest source of power for a cultivator] foundation, yet his combat prowess was terrifyingly formidable.

The six True Spirit Aperture formed a Six Harmonies Array Pattern [a powerful formation based on the harmony of six forces], amplifying his Primordial Spirit to more than five times the potency of a standard True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a Primordial Spirit refined to the True Spirit grade]. Wielding such a mighty Primordial Spirit to command six True Spirit Divine Ability, he could effortlessly sweep across the Eight Desolations [the eight desolate corners of the world] and dominate the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths [the entirety of the cosmos, comprising nine heavenly layers and ten earthly realms] with no equal.

"Do not fear. Once I devour your True Spirit Primordial Spirit and your three True Spirit Divine Ability, this venerable one will have the hope to one day glimpse the Soul Path Heavenly Emperor Realm [the legendary realm of a Heavenly Emperor who has mastered the Path of the Soul]!"

"To become a part of my Soul Path Heavenly Emperor [the supreme sovereign of the Soul Path cultivation system], you should consider it an honor."

Three Souls Imperial Lord's eyes blazed with fervent light. One after another, his True Spirit Divine Ability [a supreme technique born from a True Spirit's power] pierced through the Vast and Boundless Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse before creation]. Each strike carried the force to annihilate all things, a relentless assault that even Eldrin Chen found difficult to fully withstand.

"The Six Harmonies [a formation based on the harmony of six fundamental forces] Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a major stage of cultivation] formation pattern... amplifying his True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the foundational power of a True Spirit's Primordial Spirit] by fivefold. This is power completely comparable to that of a Five True Spirit Foundations [a legendary cultivation foundation built upon five True Spirit apertures]."

"With my current strength, it is also difficult to resist head-on."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, his gaze turning profoundly grave.

Faced with such a qualitative disparity, even Eldrin Chen, whose foundational depth was hailed as unparalleled across the ages, found himself momentarily unable to confront it directly.

It was not that he was not powerful enough, but rather that the Soul Path Secret Art [an esoteric art of the Soul Path] of Three Souls Imperial Lord was far too astonishing. He had preserved the greater part of his foundational essence to reincarnate, even venturing willingly into the Demonic Path [a cultivation path that harnesses demonic energies], all for the purpose of merging the Demonic Path with the Soul Path [a cultivation path focused on the soul and spirit] to create a secret art that could seize another's foundational essence to replenish his own Primordial Spirit.

With such profound foundations, he had waited within this Chaos Heaven [a primordial realm of chaos and potential] for tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years], all for a peerless genius possessing supreme Path Ancestor Potential [the potential to become an Ancestor of a Great Path, the pinnacle of cultivation].

Once successful, by plundering the essence of such a formidable foe, his hope of cultivating the Nine True Spirit Apertures [the legendary, perfect foundation of nine True Spirit apertures] would increase dramatically.

According to Three Souls Imperial Lord's estimation, if he could devour Eldrin Chen, he would certainly be able to cultivate his Seven True Spirit Apertures [the seventh True Spirit aperture]. Furthermore, the bottlenecks for cultivating the eighth and even the ninth True Spirit Aperture [a foundational node of immense spiritual power within a cultivator] would be significantly lowered in the future.

"Boom—"

Just as the fierce battle between Eldrin Chen and Three Souls Imperial Lord erupted, the other combatants present also Burst into an earth-shattering conflict.

A group of True Spirit Prodigy from the Northern and Southern Heaven Abyss clashed together, yet the forces from the Southern Abyss Seven Domains found themselves at a distinct disadvantage.

This was because the Northern Abyss Foreign Realm still had eleven True Spirit Prodigy, while the Southern Abyss Seven Domains only had eight present: Violet Radiance Sword Extreme, Heaven Punishment, Grand Firmament, Saint-Demon Celestial Lord, the Nine Luminaries True Lord of Limitless, Imperial Confucian, Exquisite Jiang, and the Reincarnation Body.

Most crucially, the Six Domains of the Northern Abyss possessed four peerless talents with Three True Spirit Foundations: 'Blazing Prison Saint Lord', 'Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit', 'Thunder Extreme Holy Spirit', and 'Heaven-Slaying Demon Monarch'. Their top-tier combat power simply far exceeded that of their opponents.

Thus, from the very outset of this battle, the group found themselves plunged into an absolute disadvantage.

"This is not good,"

Eldrin Chen thought, a flicker of anxiety finally surfacing in his eyes. He had already pushed his cultivation physique to its absolute limit, elevating his combat prowess to the peak of Four True Spirit Foundations, yet he was still being forced into a steady retreat under the onslaught of Three Souls Imperial Lord. It seemed he still could not withstand the pressure.

"This cannot continue. I must break this stalemate to find even a sliver of a chance for victory."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, a resolute gleam igniting deep within his gaze.

Suddenly, he unleashed all his Divine Ability [supernatural powers granted by cultivation arts] to counter Three Souls Imperial Lord, a desperate, life-risking glint flashing in his eyes.

Now, witnessing Eldrin Chen's intent to fight with his life on the line, Three Souls Imperial Lord allowed a faint smile to touch his lips once more.

By this point in the battle, after merely three thousand exchanges, he had already ascertained Eldrin Chen's strength and was certain this opponent was no match for him.

This was an absolute gap, one that ordinary means could never bridge, unless Eldrin Chen possessed some heaven-defying, ultimate trump card hidden up his sleeve.

"It seems my long-cherished wish is finally about to be fulfilled," he murmured to himself.

Three Souls Imperial Lord whispered inwardly, a ripple of emotion stirring within the depths of his gaze.

In truth, his origins ran far deeper than anyone knew. He was originally the Heaven-ordained Netherworld [the realm of the dead and spirits] Path Ancestor of the Tri-Pole Primordial Domain, whose fate was to fall due to another's machinations before he could even fully manifest.

After his fall, his remnant soul fused with the Treasure Spirit [the sentient spirit inhabiting a powerful magical artifact] of the Primordial Chaos Three Souls Scripture, hoping to cling to a wretched existence and escape death.

Alas, the one who struck was more formidable than he had imagined. That being, braving the immense karmic backlash from the Heavenly Path [the cosmic law and order of the heavens] of the Tri-Pole Primordial Domain, forcibly split the Primordial Chaos Three Souls Scripture into three parts, seeking to utterly annihilate his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator].

Later, thanks to the intervention of the Outer Realm Demon Emperor, he managed to preserve a fragment of his Primordial Spirit and embarked once more upon the path of cultivation.

As the Treasure Spirit [the sentient spirit of a magical treasure] born from the Primordial Chaos Three Souls Scripture and a reincarnated cultivator who was once a Netherworld [the underworld or realm of the dead] Path Ancestor, he was a peerless prodigy of the Soul Path lineage. By all logic, he possessed the potential to cultivate to the realm of a Soul Path Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who has mastered the Dao of the Soul].

Regrettably, because the Primordial Chaos Three Souls Scripture was split into three parts, his foundation was rendered imperfect. Thus, despite cultivating diligently for over a million Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle spanning billions of years], he remained unable to ignite his seventh Seven True Spirit Apertures [the seven apertures of the True Spirit, a critical stage in high-level cultivation]. He was forever trapped at the ninth level of the Primordial One Imperial Lord [the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm, a pinnacle stage before Heavenly Emperor] with no hope of a breakthrough.

This time, with the support of the Outer Realm Demon Emperor, he reincarnated once more. He fused the Dao of the Three Souls with the Devouring Great Path [the Great Dao of Devouring] controlled by the Outer Realm Demon Emperor, creating a method to devour the foundations of others to mend his own flaws.

"This man's innate talent is more astonishing than that of many Chaos Heavenly Emperor [Heavenly Emperors born from Primordial Chaos]. Once he matures, he could become a figure on par with Primordial Genesis or Primordial Beginning."

"Once I devour him, I will surely mend my foundational flaws. My hope of proving my Dao and attaining the realm of Soul Path Heavenly Emperor will increase dramatically."

"I paid a tremendous price and made solemn promises to borrow a portion of the Demon Emperor's authority over the Devouring Great Path. I have only one chance to devour a foundation. I cannot afford to miss it this time."

As Three Souls Imperial Lord thought this, the Slaughter Intent [intent to kill and destroy] in his gaze boiled over. He unleashed six True Spirit Divine Ability [supreme divine abilities born from the True Spirit] to suppress Eldrin Chen.

Yet, Eldrin Chen feigned a desperate last stand. He fiercely activated his three True Spirit Divine Ability to clash with his opponent for a fleeting moment before suddenly turning to flee into the distance.

"Just as I suspected."

Watching Eldrin Chen attempt to escape, a smile spread across the face of Three Souls Imperial Lord.

In a flash, he transformed into a streak of light, appearing directly before Eldrin Chen. With a faint, chilling smile, he said, "You cannot escape."

"Now!"

At that very instant, Eldrin Chen struck. He summoned and hurled forth a Nine-Aperture Chaos Furnace [a legendary artifact of immense power said to refine chaos itself], aiming to suppress his foe.

Upon first glimpsing the Nine-Aperture Chaos Furnace, Three Souls Imperial Lord paid it little heed. But the moment his gaze fully comprehended the divine furnace, his expression twisted into one of utter horror.

"A Root Origin Treasure [the primordial, foundational artifacts of creation, possessing world-shaping power]!"

"Damn it—!"

In that split second, Three Souls Imperial Lord had no time to evade. The blow landed with devastating force, sending him reeling through the void, blood spraying from his mouth. Even his Immortality [a state of eternal life] and Indestructibility [the quality of being unbreakable] were shattered, his True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the core spiritual essence of a supreme cultivator] nearly extinguished.

"*Cough*—!"

With a pained cry, Three Souls Imperial Lord transformed into a fleeing streak of radiance, desperately speeding toward the distant emptiness of the void.

As he fled, he cast a final, venomous glance back at Eldrin Chen, his heart filled with boundless regret and bitter hatred.

He was the reincarnation of an Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivator who has transcended mortality and rules over a vast domain], and possessed the unique secret art 'Six Paths of Reincarnation Heavenly Art' [a supreme technique that allows one to command the power of the six great cycles of rebirth]. Once activated, it could harness the might of six True Spirit Divine Ability [ultimate divine powers born from the essence of primordial spirits] to sweep across the Eight Desolations [the eight primordial and desolate corners of the world], power sufficient to suppress this Root Origin Treasure [a treasure born from the fundamental source of the cosmos].

Alas, gravely wounded as he was now, he could no longer muster the strength to activate it. Thinking of this, he spoke with immense bitterness, "To think you have already forged a Root Origin Treasure [a treasure born from the fundamental source of the cosmos]. Truly, you are the peerless genius I recognized."

"However, being wounded by your ambush was due to my own carelessness. I still possess world-suppressing arcane methods I have yet to unleash. On the day I Recovery [regain my full strength and vitality], I shall return to seek instruction from you."

As his words faded, Three Souls Imperial Lord had already vanished into the distant horizon.

At the same moment, Eldrin Chen summoned his Root Origin Treasure [a treasure born from the fundamental source of the cosmos] into the sky. It instantly crashed down upon the Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit [a sacred spirit embodying the essence of frost and the sparrow] who was besieging Violet Radiance Sword Extreme nearby, obliterating its physical form in an instant and reducing even its Indestructibility Primordial Spirit [an inviolable spiritual core that is nearly impossible to destroy] to ashes.

"Retreat, now!"

Seeing Eldrin Chen unleash such divine might, the other prodigies from the Northern Abyss Foreign Realm [a mysterious and distant realm of the northern abyss] were struck with awe. They transformed into streaks of light and fled into the distant horizon.

Just as the last of them departed, the Nine-Aperture Chaos Furnace [a legendary furnace with nine apertures, capable of refining chaos itself] slowly shattered, its essence dissipating into the heavens and earth.

Eldrin Chen's face paled further. He nearly lost his footing, staggering as if about to collapse.

Exquisite Jiang and Nyssa Qu rushed forward immediately, supporting him and shielding him behind them, their gazes turning grave as they scanned their surroundings.

"How are you faring?"

"Nothing too serious."

Eldrin Chen spoke, his face pale. "It's just that once I use the Root Origin Treasure [a cultivator's foundational treasure tied to their life force and cultivation base], I will suffer severe damage to my vital essence. Without an Immortal Artifact [a supreme-grade enchanted artifact] or a Spirit Herb [a plant imbued with potent spiritual energy], I fear it will be difficult for me to recover for several million years."

"Try this."

The Nine-Colored Immortal Deer [a mythical deer whose fur shines with nine colors] hurried over, took out the Nine-Colored Immortal Vessel [a magical container that radiates nine hues], and poured out some of the Nine-Colored Immortal Elixir [a legendary pill that glows with nine colors] to feed to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen swallowed three large mouthfuls in succession. Immediately, he felt the power of nine different Great Path [profound cultivation techniques or laws] surging within him, constantly mending his foundational roots and replenishing his depleted vital essence. In no time, most of his damage had been reversed.

Soon, Eldrin Chen opened his eyes and spoke. "This Nine-Colored Immortal Elixir truly lives up to its reputation as a divine medicine said to be capable of healing nearly all injuries, even for a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm]. Its efficacy is truly extraordinary."

"Now, my vital essence has been restored for the most part. Unfortunately, I cannot wield the Root Origin Treasure again for some time, or it will damage my foundational cultivation."

Upon hearing this, everyone present wore expressions of worry and distress.

The Limitless Nine Radiance Divine Lord [a title meaning 'Divine Lord of Boundless Ninefold Radiance'] took a deep breath and said, "That Three Souls Imperial Lord [an Imperial Lord who has mastered the power of the three souls] is far too powerful. If you cannot activate the Root Origin Treasure, I fear you are no match for him."

Eldrin Chen pondered briefly before speaking, "He was wounded by the Root Origin Treasure [a primordial treasure of immense power], and his injuries are far more severe than mine. Wounds to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] are the most difficult to Recovery [heal or recover from]. Even if he possesses the most supreme Great Encompassing Immortal Herb [a legendary herb of unparalleled restorative power], I fear it will still take him at least one hundred to two hundred thousand years before he regains any semblance of combat strength."

As he spoke these words, a grave expression settled upon Eldrin Chen's brow.

Although he had emerged victorious from the recent battle, his triumph had been achieved through cunning and guile.

Throughout their direct confrontation, Eldrin Chen had been thoroughly suppressed. The six True Spirit Divine Ability [divine abilities empowered by a True Spirit's essence], bolstered by the True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the spiritual foundation of a True Spirit], possessed a power that could almost sweep aside all opposition. Any other cultivator with a Four True Spirit Foundations [a cultivation art based on four True Spirit foundations] would have been slain outright.

Even Eldrin Chen himself had found himself utterly powerless to retaliate against such might.

Had he not managed to inflict a grievous wound through a surprise attack, it was doubtful whether even the Root Origin Treasure could have secured victory. After all, the Root Origin Treasure was highly unstable, capable of unleashing its full combat potential for only a fleeting moment.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen spoke with resolve, "Before his injuries Recovery, I must achieve a breakthrough and cultivate True Spirit Dharmic Power [the profound power derived from a True Spirit foundation]. Otherwise, I will stand no chance in a direct confrontation."

Having voiced his thoughts, Eldrin Chen's gaze shifted to the Path Source [the source of a cultivation path, a profound spiritual object] present at the scene.

This battle had exacted a heavy toll from all present. The forces of Southern Abyss [the Southern Abyss, a perilous region] had lost several dozen Ancient Immortal Great Power [powerful beings who are Ancient Immortals], including some who had cultivated the Indestructibility Foundation [a foundation of unbreakable durability].

The Six Domains of the Northern Abyss [the six territories of the Northern Abyss] also suffered significant losses. Most crucially, the Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit [a Holy Spirit entity in the form of a frost sparrow], who had cultivated the Three True Spirit Foundations [a cultivation art based on three True Spirit foundations], had been slain by Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen directly took the Path Source [the condensed origin of a cultivation path] from the Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit. This Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit had cultivated three major True Spirit Foundation [a foundational cultivation art based on a True Spirit's power], one of which was the True Spirit Dharmic Power [a profound cultivation realm power derived from a True Spirit]. This power could accelerate the speed at which Eldrin Chen could master his own True Spirit Dharmic Power.

Seeing this, the others also proceeded to clean up the battlefield.

"BOOM—"

Only then did the Heavenly Emperor's Altar [the sacred altar of the Heavenly Emperor] begin to radiate with streams of light, slowly revealing itself before the assembled crowd.

The moment he laid eyes on the Heavenly Emperor's Altar, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Do not overthink it. First, ascend the Heavenly Emperor's Altar to comprehend the Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence [the profound essence of the Heavenly Emperor's cultivation path]. Every step of progress we make here will increase our chances against the enemies from the outer realms."

Upon hearing his words, everyone nodded in agreement.

The Heavenly Emperor's Altar had only one hundred and eight slots available. Yet, there were over five hundred prodigies from the Southern Abyss Seven Domains present. In the end, they decided to determine the allocation of slots through combat prowess.

Eldrin Chen naturally claimed the first slot without question.

Nyssa Qu, Exquisite Jiang, the Reincarnation Body [a powerful divine ability that manifests a body of reincarnation], and the Nine-Colored Immortal Deer [a mythical deer with nine-colored fur] had all cultivated the True Spirit Foundation or were geniuses who had mastered more than five Indestructibility Foundation [a foundational cultivation realm focused on indestructibility]. It was only expected that they would secure a slot.

Nether Phoenix also possessed a top-tier dual Indestructibility Foundation. However, her victory in this contest was hard-fought, placing her only at the one hundred and fifth position. She had narrowly avoided missing out on a slot.

The truth was, there were simply too many prodigies present. Nearly half of those who could ascend the platform were geniuses at the Third Level of the Indestructibility Foundation or higher. With a Dual Indestructibility Foundation, one truly couldn't claim a guaranteed entry.

Returning to the matter at hand, as the crowd ascended, the Heavenly Emperor's Altar immediately showered down a torrent of Celestial Immortal light [the radiant aura of a true celestial being].

As everyone looked around, they discovered three thousand wisps of Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence [the condensed essence of the Heavenly Emperor's profound cultivation path] materializing, appearing before each of them.

Without hesitation, Eldrin Chen took a deep breath. Instantly, he saw nearly a thousand strands of Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence surging toward him like moths drawn to a flame.

"Huummm—"

As the Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence entered his body, Eldrin Chen was struck by a violent, resonant hum. Visions of World-Opening [the primordial act of creation, the separation of heaven and earth] unfolded within his mind's eye. The complete novel can be found at audio-novel.com (official site).