Chapter 1888 : Echoes of a Heavenly Emperor's Legacy

"So this is the Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence [the condensed essence of a Heavenly Emperor's understanding of the Great Path, formed upon their dissolution into the Dao]?"

Eldrin Chen murmured under his breath, a flicker of awe surfacing in the depths of his gaze.

The so-called Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence [the condensed essence of a Heavenly Emperor's understanding of the Great Path, formed upon their dissolution into the Dao] is formed from the interweaving of a Heavenly Emperor's [a supreme sovereign who has attained the pinnacle of cultivation] foundational essence and the Great Path [the fundamental laws and principles governing all existence] upon their dissolution into the Dao. Within it is contained the Heavenly Emperor's [a supreme sovereign who has attained the pinnacle of cultivation] insights into the Great Path [the fundamental laws and principles governing all existence]. Even for a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal who has achieved the Golden Immortal realm and comprehends the Great Encompassing Truth], this is a rare and peerless treasure.

At this moment, having absorbed nearly a thousand strands of Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence [the condensed essence of a Heavenly Emperor's understanding of the Great Path, formed upon their dissolution into the Dao] in succession, Eldrin Chen felt an endless torrent of insights into the Great Path [the fundamental laws and principles governing all existence] surging towards him. His own understanding of cultivation began to advance by leaps and bounds.

In that fleeting instant, Eldrin Chen witnessed the genesis of a world and, as if in a trance, glimpsed scenes of Oblivion [the state of utter annihilation and non-existence] from the Myriad Heavens [the collective term for the countless realms and worlds within the vast cosmos].

Though the vast majority of these visions were fragmented and incomplete, Eldrin Chen still managed to vaguely perceive a trace of their profound mysteries.

A youth, rising from the ashes of Decay [a state of decline, ruin, or entropy], cultivating arduously within a broken ancient world. He advanced triumphantly, sweeping across the world, and ultimately embarked on the supreme journey, becoming a mighty Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who has attained the pinnacle of cultivation] whose name shook the Chaos [the primordial, formless state from which all existence emerged].

"The life of a Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who has attained the pinnacle of cultivation]?"

Eldrin Chen whispered inwardly. He immediately settled his spirit, immersing himself in comprehending the life of the Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who has attained the pinnacle of cultivation], and in doing so, subtly grasped the profound mysteries within the Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence [the condensed essence of a Heavenly Emperor's understanding of the Great Path, formed upon their dissolution into the Dao].

An immeasurable length of time seemed to pass. When Eldrin Chen slowly regained awareness, he discovered that several hundred characters of Dao patterns [mystical inscriptions embodying the principles of the Great Path] had manifested within his body. Original English translation available at audio‑novel.com.

"Heavenly Emperor's Ancient Script [a legendary scripture said to be penned by a Heavenly Emperor in the primordial age],"

Eldrin Chen murmured, a flicker of astonishment surfacing between his brows.

The Heavenly Emperor's Ancient Script sprawled across hundreds of pages, each character profoundly intricate and arcane. After long contemplation, Eldrin Chen faintly grasped the name of this ancient text—the Heavenly Emperor's Artifact Fusion Chapter [a supreme method for fusing magical treasures].

"The Heavenly Emperor's Artifact Fusion Chapter?"

Eldrin Chen paused for a moment, then immediately began to delve into the mysteries of this ancient tome.

The scripture was ineffably profound. Even with Eldrin Chen's exceptional talent, its concepts were abstruse and difficult to grasp. It took him a full ten thousand years to achieve a preliminary understanding and comprehend the essence of this Ancient Scripture.

He discovered that this Ancient Scripture contained a method for cultivating a True Spirit Treasure [a treasure of ultimate power, born from and fused with one's very soul].

At its core, it was a technique to fuse a set of Formation Artifact [magical treasures designed to work in concert, often as part of an array] into a single, supreme True Spirit Treasure, thereby advancing one's Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Pass [a cultivation stage focused on nurturing spiritual treasures] to the True Spirit Realm [the pinnacle stage of spiritual treasure cultivation].

Such a True Spirit Treasure was immensely powerful. Once successfully forged, one could wield it to dominate all within the Six Harmonies [the six spatial directions: up, down, east, west, north, south] and the Eight Desolations [the eight furthest, most desolate reaches of the world]. In the future, it even held a sliver of potential to be cultivated into a Third Chaos Realm [a legendary realm of power bordering on the primordial chaos] treasure.

However, while the True Spirit Treasure was formidable, its cultivation demands were exceedingly stringent. The first requirement was to select a set of Formation Artifact whose elemental attributes were perfectly compatible and had reached the True Spirit [a high level of spiritual awareness and power in a treasure] stage.

For example, the Vast Sea Divine Pearl [a legendary pearl said to contain the essence of the primordial ocean] belonging to Worthy Longevity Chen, if one could gather thirty-six of them and cultivate each into an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the world's natural laws, possessing profound spiritual power], there would be a possibility of forging them into a True Spirit Treasure [the highest grade of spiritual artifact, containing a true spirit imprint]: the 'True World Pearl [a pearl said to contain a miniature, perfect world within].'

Another example is the Eight Trigrams Treasure Flag [a set of eight banners inscribed with the Eight Trigrams, used for divination and formation arrays]. If all eight were cultivated to the realm of Innate Spiritual Treasure and then merged into one, it would be possible to attract a True Spirit Imprint [the fundamental spiritual pattern of a concept or law, necessary for creating a True Spirit Treasure], thereby forging the True Spirit Eight Trigrams Banner [the ultimate form of the Eight Trigrams banners, a True Spirit Treasure].

Of course, these are merely possibilities. Even with the most perfectly compatible Formation Artifact [an artifact specifically designed to be part of a formation or set], whether one can ultimately merge them and cultivate them into a True Spirit Treasure still depends on one's own Opportunity and Fortune [the confluence of chance and destiny that shapes a cultivator's path] and Creation [the act of profound insight and innovation, often leading to breakthroughs].

But for Eldrin Chen, his Five Lifebound Immortal Treasures [the five core magical treasures a cultivator refines with their life essence, growing in power alongside them] were not inherently compatible. It seemed exceedingly difficult to merge them into a single True Spirit Treasure.

"Is there truly no path to cultivate my five lifebound treasures into a True Spirit Treasure?"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, sinking into deep contemplation.

Setting aside the deep emotional bond forged over a lifetime of cultivation with these treasures, the key issue was that the Five Lifebound Immortal Treasures had been integrated into the very foundation of his cultivation for countless years. They were not something that could simply be discarded and replaced.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen fell silent for a long while. Finally, he drew a deep breath and declared, "Since even the methods of the Heavenly Emperor [a supreme title for a ruler among immortals] cannot guide me to forge a True Spirit Treasure, then I shall create a method of my own in the days to come."

With his resolve now steeled, Eldrin Chen immediately withdrew his wandering thoughts.

He opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings. Seeing that the others were still immersed in comprehending the Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence [the profound insights and techniques left behind by a Heavenly Emperor], he gathered his focus and began the work of reforging his Root Origin Treasure [a cultivator's foundational treasure, tied to their core cultivation base].

Cultivating the Root Origin Treasure [a foundational treasure that embodies the essence of one's cultivation path] for the second time proved far less arduous than the first. Eldrin Chen succeeded in mastering it in less than a millennium.

Not long after completing the Root Origin Treasure, Eldrin Chen retrieved the Path Source [the condensed essence of a cultivator's cultivation path and power] left behind by the Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit.

True to her status as a peerless prodigy who had attained True Spirit Dharmic Power [a profound level of cultivation where one's spiritual power becomes pure and true], the Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit's Path Source was several times more potent and vast than the one derived from the Soaring Sky Imperial Scion.

The moment Eldrin Chen began refining the Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit's Path Source, an incredibly pure and potent foundational energy surged into his body, profoundly nourishing his latent potential and cultivation foundation.

A portion of this refined spiritual energy merged directly into the Nine-Aperture Chaos Furnace [a legendary furnace capable of refining and purifying spiritual energy], steadily accelerating its rate of energy conversion.

Time flowed like a river, and tens of thousands of years passed in the blink of an eye. By the time Eldrin Chen had completely refined the Path Source of the Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit, he suddenly realized the spiritual power within him had finally reached the critical point of metamorphosis. For more chapters, visit audio - novel . com for the complete novel.

"The breakthrough is finally at hand," he murmured to himself.

Eldrin Chen opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings. The Heavenly Emperor's Altar [a sacred platform of immense power] was now nearly deserted, with only Exquisite Jiang and Nether Phoenix remaining nearby, standing guard over his secluded cultivation.

Seeing him emerge, Nyssa Qu spoke up, "The others departed upon concluding their own sessions to seek out Opportunity and Fortune [chance encounters and resources that aid a cultivator's advancement]. We stayed behind to await your emergence."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod of acknowledgment. "I am preparing to assail the realm of True Spirit Dharmic Power," he declared. "To prevent detection by the Three Souls Imperial Lord, I intend to make my breakthrough within the depths of the Chaos Heaven Abyss [a turbulent, primordial expanse between realms]."

"Follow me for now. We shall discuss everything after my breakthrough."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, their faces lighting up with joy.

Seeing their assent, Eldrin Chen did not hesitate. With a flick of his sleeve, he gathered the group and pierced through the vast sky, vanishing from the shard of the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain in an instant and arriving just outside the Ancient Chaos Path.

They reached the edge of the Ancient Chaos Path and then departed from it, heading towards the Chaos Heaven Abyss. They had not traveled far before they came to a halt.

Here, Eldrin Chen was surprised to discover a vast Chaos Lair.

"This place is already beyond the Ancient Chaos Path, yet not too distant. It is the perfect location for my breakthrough."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, then spoke aloud, "Let us investigate."

So saying, Eldrin Chen was the first to ascend onto the Chaos Lair.

Yet, the moment he set foot upon the Chaos Lair, Eldrin Chen was astonished to find a man of imposing stature already cultivating within.

"Defying Heaven."

Eldrin Chen exclaimed in astonishment, "So it's you!" The person before him was none other than Defying Heaven, who had vanished all those years ago.

At this moment, Defying Heaven was cultivating within the Chaos Lair. He held a dazzlingly brilliant broken sword fragment in his hand, and the aura emanating from his body was far more formidable than it had been in the past.

"Three True Spirit Foundations,"

Nether Phoenix murmured, a note of surprise in her voice as she spoke, "Truly worthy of being called a Child of Destiny. To think you not only survived back then but also seized an Opportunity and Fortune to advance even further."

Eldrin Chen was also taken aback. He glanced at the broken sword in Defying Heaven's hand and detected a faint wisp of True Spirit [the foundational spiritual essence of a primordial being] aura emanating from the fractured blade.

Seeing this, Nether Phoenix could not help but remark with astonishment, "It's a damaged Innate Supreme Treasure [a peerless artifact born from the primordial chaos]. A pity its Treasure Spirit [the sentient consciousness within a powerful artifact] has fallen into a deep slumber. It can no longer unleash the true, world-shaking might of such a supreme treasure."

How exceedingly precious an Innate Supreme Treasure is! Legend holds that the higher the grade of such a treasure, the greater the restrictions it places on the innate potential of its wielder.

Take an Innate Ancient Tree [a primordial tree born at the dawn of creation]. Even if it were to obtain the Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a primordial light embodying unbreakable essence], its chances of successfully ascending to become an Innate Spiritual Root [a spiritual foundation of primordial origin] would still hang in the balance.

As for a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Root aspiring to evolve into a Chaos Spiritual Root [a spiritual foundation born from the primordial chaos itself], the difficulty is said to be greater than scaling the heavens. Even with the aid of Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial energy from which all creation sprang], the hope of a successful ascension remains vanishingly slim.

This is because to ascend to a Chaos Spiritual Root, one requires at the very least an energy source imbued with a True Spirit Imprint [the fundamental spiritual signature of a primordial being].

The same holds true for Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos, possessing innate laws]. An ordinary Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [the highest grade of innate spiritual treasure] has virtually no chance of ascending to become a Chaos Spiritual Artifact [an artifact forged from the primal energies of chaos]. Even if it were to obtain Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial energy from which all creation springs], the likelihood of failure would exceed ninety-nine percent.

However, Innate Supreme Treasure [an innate treasure that has transcended to contain a True Spirit Imprint] is fundamentally different. While both Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure and Innate Supreme Treasure are treasures of the Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme realm of cultivation] level, their value and power are worlds apart.

This is because Innate Supreme Treasure have all integrated a True Spirit Imprint [the unique spiritual signature of a True Spirit, granting sentience and immense power], transforming into True Spirit Treasure [a treasure imbued with the consciousness and power of a True Spirit]. They are peerless Rare Spiritual Wonders [objects of immense spiritual rarity and power].

Any single Innate Supreme Treasure, if it can obtain a strand of Chaos Genesis Energy, would have a success rate exceeding fifty percent in its ascension to a Chaos Spiritual Artifact.

In contrast, Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure lack a True Spirit Imprint. This represents a qualitative chasm separating them from Innate Supreme Treasure, rendering their promotion to Chaos Spiritual Artifact an impossibility.

It is precisely for this reason that nearly all Primordial One Imperial Lord and even a minority of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [an even more exalted realm of immortal cultivation] possess Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. Yet, those who can claim ownership of an Innate Supreme Treasure are exceedingly rare.

In fact, within the Southern Abyss Six Heavenly Domains [a cluster of six celestial realms in the southern cosmic abyss], many Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a title for a supreme ruler who commands chaos] wield weapons that are treasures of the Innate Supreme Treasure grade. This alone speaks volumes about their profound rarity and value.

Thus, the sight of the broken sword in Defying Heaven's hand—a damaged Innate Supreme Treasure—sent waves of shock through the assembled crowd.

"This blade is named the 'Heaven-Slaying Sword' [a sword of legend, said to possess the power to challenge the heavens themselves]. It was once one of the four Supreme Immortal Sword [peerless swords of immortal rank] belonging to the 'Taiheng Immortal Sage' from the ancient Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain [the primordial realm of the immortal cosmos]. A pity it is now broken and incomplete. The missing half of the blade is suspected to have fallen into the hands of a certain Primordial One Imperial Lord."

It was at this moment that Defying Heaven opened his eyes and spoke, his tone calm and detached.

Eldrin Chen nodded slightly, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on obtaining an Innate Supreme Treasure [a supreme magical artifact born from the world's primal energies] and inheriting the legacy of Taiheng Immortal Sage."

Defying Heaven smiled, glanced up at Eldrin Chen, and then spoke, "With my current strength, I may finally possess the power to stand against you in battle."

"However," he continued, "I have heard of your battle with Three Souls Imperial Lord and that your injuries have not yet fully Recovery [healed]. It would be dishonorable to take advantage of your current state."

"A battle did indeed take place," Eldrin Chen affirmed, his expression turning grave. "That individual's power is unfathomably deep. Even if we were to meet again, I have no certainty of being able to withstand him."

Defying Heaven gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. "When the time is right, then," he declared, "I shall face you in combat."

Having said this, Defying Heaven studied Eldrin Chen once more and inquired, "Do you intend to enter seclusion for a breakthrough?"

Eldrin Chen nodded, his tone calm and measured. "I have gained some insights," he replied. "I plan to attempt a period of secluded cultivation."

Defying Heaven nodded in understanding, then rose to his feet. "The inheritance of Taiheng Immortal Sage is now mine," he stated. "However, this place was once the Path-Field [a sacred ground where a great sage cultivated and comprehended the Dao] of that very sage. Secluding yourself here may increase your chances of successfully advancing your realm."

With those words, Defying Heaven took a step that carried him across the void, heading towards the path leading to the Chaos Heaven.

Watching him depart, Eldrin Chen offered no further comment. He immediately turned his attention and made his way into the heart of the Within the Chaos Lair.

Upon stepping into the Chaos Lair [a primordial sanctuary formed from chaotic energies], the group immediately sensed its abnormality. This lair contained its own heavens and earth, enveloped by array patterns of an Immortal Sage [a supreme immortal cultivator] level. These formations continuously converted Primordial Chaos Energy [the undifferentiated energy from which all creation springs] into Immortal Spirit Essence [a pure, potent energy used by high-level immortals].

"A fine Path-Field [a sacred cultivation ground aligned with the Great Dao]," someone remarked.

Eldrin Chen murmured, a trace of lament in his voice.

Within this lair, he had detected a lingering trace of Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence [the profound enlightenment left behind by a Heavenly Emperor's cultivation]. This discovery was truly astonishing.

One must recall that outside the Heavenly Emperor's Altar [the sacred platform where Heavenly Emperors attained enlightenment], nearly two thousand cultivators had once vied for the Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence, yet in the end, only one hundred and eight had earned the right to ascend the platform.

Yet this Defying Heaven had the fortune to monopolize the Heavenly Emperor's Path Essence all for himself. No wonder he succeeded in forging his third True Spirit Foundation [the foundational spiritual core of a True Spirit cultivator].

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen spoke softly, "Enough. The Opportunity and Fortune [the serendipitous chances and destiny that shape a cultivator's path] of others are not my concern. I must focus on walking my own path with diligence."

With those words, Eldrin Chen decisively settled his mind and adjusted his internal state. He began to channel his spiritual power, directing it like a torrent to assail the barriers of the True Spirit Realm [the realm of the True Spirit, a major milestone in cultivation].

He continuously activated the Nine-Aperture Chaos Furnace [a legendary cauldron that refines chaos into pure power] within him, accelerating the transformation and circulation of his spiritual energy. This cycle repeated one hundred and eight thousand times until, at last, the energy within his body underwent a profound metamorphosis.

"RUMBLE—"

In a single Ksana-time [an infinitesimal unit of time from Buddhist cosmology, less than a second], a thunderous roar, the sound of World-Opening [the primordial act of creation], erupted from within Eldrin Chen.

A sound of unprecedented magnitude, a resonance never before heard, pierced through the Vast and Boundless Chaos [the formless primordial state before creation] and the Long River [the metaphorical river of time and fate], causing the ineffable void itself to crack and fracture.

Eldrin Chen lifted his gaze, watching the Eternal True Spirit [the primordial, unchanging source of all spiritual essence] at the farthest reaches of the void, witnessing as countless True Spirit Imprint [the fundamental, indestructible patterns of spiritual essence] cascaded down upon him.

An immeasurable span of time seemed to pass. Eldrin Chen discovered that every last strand of his spiritual power [the energy cultivated and wielded by practitioners of the mystical arts] had been utterly transformed, refined into flawless True Spirit Dharmic Power [spiritual energy of the highest purity, imbued with the essence of the True Spirit]. Furthermore, a vast quantity of True Spirit Imprint remained within his body, all of it surging into his fourth True Spirit Aperture [a spiritual nexus within a cultivator's body capable of storing immense power].

It was at this very moment that Eldrin Chen looked up towards the boundless Heavenly Vault [the dome of the heavens, the firmament], a ripple of profound realization stirring within the depths of his pupils.

There, at the ultimate limit of the endless void, the Eternal True Spirit perpetually radiated a light of Immortality [the state of eternal, unchanging existence], appearing neither diminished nor increased, as if it had suffered no loss whatsoever.

"Even though I have refined countless billions of True Spirit Imprint," Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, his voice low, "for the Eternal True Spirit, it must be nothing more than a single drop in an infinite ocean, must it not?"

He fell silent for a moment, then pondered aloud, "Or perhaps... to It, these True Spirit Imprint are merely the last lingering gleam of a Solar Sun [the essence of the primordial sun], an utterly insignificant wisp of light?"

The mysteries of this Eternal True Spirit remained inscrutable to Eldrin Chen. He could not penetrate its secrets, nor could he fully fathom its nature. Even now, having reached such heights, he had only grasped a fraction of the profound mysteries [deep and esoteric truths] contained within the True Spirit Imprint.

These True Spirit Imprint were eternally Indestructibility [utterly unbreakable and everlasting]. Once they merged with one's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] and spiritual power, they could interweave to form True Spirit Path Pattern [divine patterns of power derived from the True Spirit], granting the True Spirit [a cultivator who has achieved a state of spiritual perfection] a nature approaching both Immortality and Indestructibility.

However, the True Spirit Imprint [the unique, indestructible mark of a True Spirit cultivator's existence] is not truly invincible. While it indeed grants Immortality [the state of being undying] and Indestructibility [the quality of being impossible to destroy], the divine runes that compose it can still be shattered.

Once the True Spirit Path Pattern [the intricate web of divine runes forming a True Spirit cultivator's foundation] is broken, the minuscule True Spirit Imprint alone cannot protect the cultivator's complete foundation.

This is precisely why Soaring Sky Imperial Scion's True Spirit Physique [a body forged and tempered to the level of a True Spirit] was left in tatters, why Three Souls Imperial Lord's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] was grievously wounded, and why the Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit was ultimately slain.

For if the attacking force is sufficiently powerful, it can pierce through the protection of the True Spirit Divine Runes [the divine runes that form the defensive lattice of a True Spirit], inflicting severe trauma upon both flesh and Primordial Spirit.

Of course, even if the True Spirit Divine Runes are fractured, the power of the True Spirit Imprint can still shield a portion of the cultivator's flesh and Primordial Spirit. However, each True Spirit Imprint is finite in size, capable of safeguarding only a small fragment of the soul and body.

Relying on this preserved fragment of soul and flesh, a powerhouse who has cultivated the True Spirit Foundation [the foundational art for achieving True Spirit status] can eventually Recovery [the process of healing and restoring oneself] from their wounds.

Thus, those mighty beings who have achieved the True Spirit Foundation may fall into deep slumber or hibernation, but they do not truly experience Death, nor do they fall into the cycle of Reincarnation [the transmigration of the soul after death].

Take the Frost Sparrow Holy Spirit as an example. Although she was said to have been slain by Eldrin Chen, given several Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle spanning billions of years] of time, she would eventually awaken and return.

"The True Spirit Divine Runes are profoundly mystical indeed," Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly. "But can one advance further, forging them into a True Spirit Divine Chain [a chain formed by interweaving multiple True Spirit Divine Runes]?"

Eldrin Chen understood that the power of the True Spirit Divine Runes was formidable. Yet, he contemplated that by fusing a multitude of these divine runes into a True Spirit Divine Chain, one could undoubtedly achieve a further, significant enhancement in defensive capabilities.

It is a pity that with Eldrin Chen's current level of mastery, his control over the True Spirit Imprint remains quite rudimentary. He has only barely touched upon the power of the True Spirit Path Pattern and is still a vast distance away from wielding the True Spirit Divine Chain.

"The path is long and arduous," he murmured.

Eldrin Chen took a deep breath and then lowered his gaze, sensing the power within his body.

After achieving the True Spirit Dharmic Power this time, he discovered his strength had undergone a tremendous leap. For a cultivator, Dharmic Power [the refined spiritual energy cultivated within one's body] is ultimately the foundation of everything.

Eldrin Chen tested briefly and found that when he channeled an Innate Spiritual Treasure, his Dharmic Power consumption had been reduced by more than ninety percent.

If the previous Eldrin Chen could fight at full strength for a few thousand moves with the Soaring Immortal Zither before exhausting his power, he could now sustain a battle for tens of thousands of moves.

Most crucially, whether it was the Soaring Immortal Zither or the Returning Abyss Pearl, their potency in his hands had undergone a qualitative transformation, increasing by roughly double.

The power of his True Spirit Divine Ability [supreme mystical techniques born from one's spiritual core], such as the Chaos Divine Thunder, Chaos Unity Energy, and Five-Colored Divine Light, had also surged dramatically, becoming incomparable to their pre-breakthrough state.

Dharmic Power is the very foundation that directly governs the might of Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts] and Divine Ability. Facing Three Souls Imperial Lord now, I have nothing to fear.

Eldrin Chen whispered inwardly. He now understood that the quality of his Dharmic Power had reached the level of an early-stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Early Stage.

Even if it was merely the threshold of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Early Stage, the qualitative transformation it brought was utterly incomparable to what came before.

The only two distinctions between his current state and a true Great Encompassing Golden Immortal were that he had not yet cultivated a Great Encompassing Path Fruit, and he could not directly wield the power of the Great Path.

This was because a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, whose Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] had achieved Path Union [union with the Great Path], could directly channel the power of the Great Path Origin [the fundamental source of all cosmic laws] to augment themselves. The combat prowess they could Burst forth was on an entirely different plane of existence.

Therefore, even now, the gap between Eldrin Chen and a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal remained as vast as the chasm between Heaven Abyss and the earth. Should even the weakest Great Encompassing Golden Immortal deign to act against Eldrin Chen, it would likely take no more than three moves to conclude the matter.

"Five True Spirit Foundations, Four True Spirit Apertures."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, sensing the power within his body. A faint smile still touched his lips.

This time, having cultivated True Spirit Dharmic Power, the True Spirit Imprint [a mark of destiny and profound attainment] he obtained had illuminated his fourth True Spirit Aperture [a mystical node within a cultivator's spiritual foundation]. This fourth aperture was then fused by Eldrin Chen into the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path.

The reason for choosing to integrate it into the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path was that Three Souls Imperial Lord, as a Soul Path True Lord, had also opened Six True Spirit Apertures. Among his arsenal was a particularly vicious curse technique.

If Eldrin Chen were to be ambushed by Three Souls Imperial Lord's True Spirit curse, relying solely on the defenses of his Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Body and the power of his True Spirit Primordial Spirit might not be sufficient to withstand it.

Therefore, cultivating the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path to erect a protective barrier around his own Primordial Spirit was of paramount importance.

Most crucially, the Great Deduction Polarity Stellar is a Celestial Mechanism Divine Ability [a supreme mystical art], capable of divining the auspicious and inauspicious portents of the Future. In the days to come, it can be used to navigate and avoid perils.

Furthermore, once Eldrin Chen attains the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm and becomes a player capable of orchestrating moves within the grand Kalpa Tribulation [the cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal], this art of Celestial Mechanism will provide significant aid in planning and strategizing for clan members when they themselves must step into the Kalpa Tribulation.

"Within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, it seems no one has yet managed to cultivate a Chaos-grade Celestial Mechanism Divine Ability, has there?"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, a faint smile unconsciously gracing his lips.

To his knowledge, even figures like the Human Race's Purple Tenuity Imperial Lord or the Divine Clan's Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign had never deeply cultivated the Way of Celestial Mechanism. At most, they had achieved a Primordial One Grade level Celestial Mechanism Divine Ability.

If Eldrin Chen could cultivate a True Spirit Grade Celestial Mechanism Divine Ability, his ability to ensure his own survival in the future would be beyond doubt.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen took a deep breath and began retrieving Rare Spiritual Wonders [extremely rare spiritual materials of profound power] to commence his cultivation of the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path.

In truth, Eldrin Chen had never neglected his cultivation of the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path. His comprehension of the Celestial Mechanism Path had long been refined to the Primordial One Realm.

The sole hindrance had been the extreme rarity of Rare Spiritual Wonders possessing the Celestial Mechanism attribute, which were required as catalysts. Unable to gather suitable ingredients, his progress had remained stalled at the Half-Step Patriarch Level.

Fortunately, since venturing into the Chaos Heaven Abyss, he had explored dozens of Chaos Lair and ancient ruins, and vanquished numerous foes from the Northern Abyss Foreign Realm. These endeavors had finally yielded several portions of the necessary Rare Spiritual Wonders.

The catalyst ingredients required for cultivating the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path are, respectively, the Great Encompassing Rare Treasure, the Celestial Mechanism Stone, the Primal Radiance Energy, the Primal Shadow Energy, and three hundred sixty-five Ninth Rank Supreme Grade Stellar Primordial Essence.

Eldrin Chen refined each catalyst ingredient one by one. After several thousand years, he finally succeeded in advancing the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path to the Eleventh Limit Realm.

Only at this moment did Eldrin Chen sense his own Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] and allow a faint smile to surface.

"It seems that within ten or twenty thousand years, this Divine Ability [a supernatural power cultivated through esoteric arts] will reach the True Spirit Realm."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself. The primary reason this True Spirit Divine Ability was able to complete its transformation so swiftly was the enhancement of his Dharmic Power, which significantly accelerated the nurturing speed of the Divine Ability.

Secondly, after cultivating the fourth True Spirit Aperture, Eldrin Chen's True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a Primordial Spirit refined to the True Spirit level] had grown another forty percent.

By now, his True Spirit Primordial Spirit was already more than twice as powerful as an ordinary True Spirit Primordial Spirit. Although it still could not compare to the fivefold True Spirit Primordial Spirit of Three Souls Imperial Lord, it was nevertheless remarkably formidable.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, the combined power of his True Spirit Primordial Spirit, his Great Path [his foundational cultivation art], and his Dharmic Power should be no weaker than that of Three Souls Imperial Lord.

If he were to channel a Divine Ability now, considering the amplification provided by his Great Encompassing Rank True Spirit Dharmic Power [Dharmic Power refined to the True Spirit level], his power should even surpass that of Three Souls Imperial Lord by a margin.

And if his True Spirit Physique [a physical body refined to the True Spirit level] were factored in, Eldrin Chen's foundational combat prowess should have definitively surpassed that of Three Souls Imperial Lord.

However, Three Souls Imperial Lord [a powerful immortal lord who has mastered the cultivation of his three souls] had, after all, cultivated six major True Spirit Divine Ability [ultimate divine-level techniques], and still held trump cards he had not yet unleashed. Thus, in a true fight to the death, it was genuinely difficult to predict who would emerge victorious.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen fell into a brief, thoughtful silence before finally emerging from his secluded cultivation chamber.

By now, the others had been waiting for some time. Seeing Eldrin Chen, they immediately inquired, "How do you feel after this breakthrough?"

"As I am now, I should possess the strength to face Three Souls Imperial Lord in a direct confrontation,"

Eldrin Chen declared. He then continued, "Now, while Three Souls Imperial Lord recuperates from his injuries, I intend to move against the powerful figures of the Northern Abyss Foreign Realm [a hostile outer realm], to first cut away his wings and weaken his forces."

Hearing this, a surge of excitement stirred within everyone present.

Nether Phoenix [an immortal maiden of great power] drew a deep breath and spoke, her voice filled with resolve, "Finally, we can take action and wash away the shame of our previous defeat."

Nine-Colored Immortal Deer [a mystical deer spirit] also lifted its head, its eyes gleaming with light. "Then let us depart," it said. "Gentle Deer [the deer's affectionate name for itself] wants revenge. We shall defeat those wicked ones."

A soft chuckle rippled through the group at the deer's words.

Seeing everyone's shared desire for battle, Eldrin Chen gave a firm nod of agreement. Without further delay, he led the group towards the Ancient Chaos Path [a perilous and ancient pathway]. Find this and other novels at audio-novel . com.