Chapter 1759 : Great Calamity

The Celestial Immortals of the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) were predominantly flawless Celestial Immortals of Imperial Son caliber. Having now broken through to the second layer of the Celestial Immortal realm, their mana had increased by another 30 percent, marking a significant rise in their overall power.

It could be said that the current members of the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) possessed strength that would not be considered weak even among mid-stage Celestial Immortals.

In comparison, figures like Daoist Zi Xuan, Divine Lord Liu Li, and the Li Yan Deity, though making steady progress in their cultivation, could not match the speed of the Chen Clan’s members due to their lack of a Primordial Ancient Tree to refine the primordial chaos energy.

According to Eldrin's (Person Name) estimation, it would take these individuals at least 2 to 3 million years to advance by a single cultivation level. To break through to the Second Heavenly Immortal Realm, they would need to wait another million years at the very least.

Getting back to the story, after breaking through to the Second Heavenly Immortal Realm, Eldrin resumed his life of secluded cultivation.

He remained within the Abyssal Grotto, devoting himself to comprehending divine arts and mystic techniques, striving to swiftly advance to the Third Heavenly Immortal realm.

As time flowed on, over 1 100 1000 years passed in the blink of an eye, and the new great calamity drew ever closer.

Before the Great Cataclysm erupted, Eldrin gathered all immortals of the Abyssal Return Immortal Alliance and ordered the 9 great grotto-heavens to seal their mountains and evade the calamity, quietly awaiting the cataclysm's commencement.

This tribulation, being the first great calamity since the Primal Cataclysm, had drawn in far more immortals than anticipated.

Throughout the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain, nearly every celestial realm saw over 30 Half-Step Celestial Immortals undergoing their heavenly tribulations. Among them were numerous players from ancient sects beyond the borders of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain itself.

Eldrin understood that this was because the Karmic Cataclysm was approaching. Countless immortals were striving to seize a sliver of hope for survival, thus seeking to break through to the Celestial Immortal realm before the cataclysm arrived.

According to the patterns of the past, when the cosmic tribulation erupts, the probability of immortal beings perishing exceeds 90-9 percent, while earthly immortals face over a 90 percent chance of annihilation. However, celestial immortals retain a 30 to 50 percent likelihood of survival.

Within the 3 Realms, the first 2 could truly be described as surviving 9 deaths out of 10.

Only by becoming a Heavenly Immortal powerhouse can 1 possess a certain degree of self-preservation capability during the Tribulation of Calamity.

In truth, for those who had broken through to the Celestial Immortal realm, if they did not recklessly pursue further advancement but focused solely on self-preservation during the tribulation of annihilation, their chances of survival should be no less than 60 to 70 percent.

Only those who sought to seize this opportunity to break through and attain the realm of Ancient Immortals or even the Great Luo would face life-and-death dangers where survival was but 1 in 10.

To return to our story, after Eldrin (Person Name) entered seclusion and sealed the mountain, the great tribulation immediately swept forth.

Eldrin then discovered that the struggle among various factions during this great calamity was exceptionally fierce—even the Chen Immortal Clan did not possess the power to sweep through all opposition.

Eldrin's 3 disciples were all exceptionally rare and powerful, each a protagonist-level figure in the calamity. Yet even the lord of the Great Luo forces beyond the Qingcang Immortal Domain had forbidden prodigies drawn into the tribulation.

From the Kunpeng Clan came the Void Kunpeng, from the demon race the supreme bloodline of the Primordial Golden Hou, and from the divine race the Radiant Sun Godlord—all were taboo-level powerhouses.

These individuals were all exceptionally gifted talents. However, a million years ago, they encountered even more formidable beings during the Great Dao Tribulation. Defeated yet surviving, they descended into the Qing Cang Immortal Realm, seeking to seize the opportunity to cultivate into forbidden Celestial Immortals.

Ye Qingfeng and his 2 companions led the heroes drawn into the tribulation by the Chen Immortal Clan, sweeping across the 6 Western Heavenly Domains. These forbidden imperial heirs proved equally formidable in their onslaught.

To counter the now-dominant human race, 3 Prohibited Lords joined forces, leading countless native yaoxian and deities into a climactic confrontation against humanity across the Central 6 Heavenly Domains.

The 2 sides engaged in an epic battle for the position of Central Ancestral Domain's master, a conflict that lasted for over 10 1000 years, yet neither could gain the upper hand over the other.

Until more than 20,000 years later, when the battle reached a stalemate, Chen Xianzhu suddenly emerged from obscurity. Wielding the Immortal Iron Staff, he struck down mighty heroes from all sides, slaying 6 peerless prodigies of the 3 Taiyi realm. With a single devastating strike, he obliterated the Primordial Golden Hou, completely shattering the deadlock.

In the final battle, the Great Void Kunpeng was slain by Ye Qingfeng, while the Radiant Sun Divine Monarch suffered defeat at the hands of Lu Wenyuan and Yuansheng, managing to flee with only his primordial spirit intact.

The remaining forces of the demon and god clans collapsed completely, with over 3 100 half-step Celestial Immortals having fallen in battle.

After this single battle, the already devastated demon and god clans suffered even greater losses, with nearly all of their Quasi-Celestials—those on the verge of reaching the Celestial Realm—wiped out.

According to various estimates, the 2 races of demons and gods now possess no fewer than 800 Celestial Immortals, yet the total number of Quasi-Celestial Immortals amounts to less than a 100—a rare vacuum layer has emerged.

"The next 10 million years shall be the era of humankind."

Deep within the various grotto-heavens, a celestial immortal of great power who was observing the battle remarked, "Unless the human race suffers devastating losses during the Tribulation War, with their strength growing while others wane, they are destined to become the most powerful race in the Qingcang Immortal Domain."

Another human mighty figure nodded, a faint smile gracing his lips as he remarked, "With the rise of humanity and the decline of demon gods, it will only take 1 kalpa. Once these newly ascended Celestial Immortals mature, the balance of power in the Qing Cang Immortal Domain is destined to shift."

After quelling the great calamity, Ye Qingfeng and the others finally achieved another monumental breakthrough in their cultivation.

Chen Xianzhu, Ye Qingfeng, Lu Wenyuan, and Yuansheng had all cultivated Forbidden Domains, and each had progressed far within this realm.

Not long after, the 4 of them broke through to the Celestial Immortal realm, forging flawless Celestial Immortal foundations through the forbidden domain.

Among them, Ye Qingfeng opened up 19 layers of heaven, Chen Xianzhu cleaved through 18 layers of the firmament, while Lu Wenyuan and Yuansheng each forged 17 celestial realms.

Time flew by, and the great calamity that had spanned 30 1000 years swiftly passed.

As the heavenly tribulation qi dissipated and the 9 great grotto-heavens reappeared in the mortal realm, Eldrin gazed upon his 4 disciples and descendants kneeling before him. A satisfied nod accompanied his words:

"This sweeping tribulation has forged you into forbidden Celestial Immortals. You have not disappointed me."

"All credit goes to your mentorship, Master."

Ye Qingfeng spoke, his expression bearing both reverence and a touch of solemnity.

After breaking through to the Celestial Immortal realm, his combat prowess had become comparable to a mid-stage Celestial Immortal. Yet, this only made him increasingly aware of the unfathomable depth of his master's power—like the divine abyss of the heavenly sun, vast and boundless.

"This master is most pleased."

Eldrin smiled and spoke, offering a few words of encouragement before saying, "Elder Xian, please stay. The 3 of you may take your leave."

"As you command."

The 3 immediately cupped their hands in salute and withdrew from the grand hall 1 after another.

Chen Xianzhu cupped his hands and said calmly, "Father."

Eldrin said nothing more, simply leading his eldest son to the edge of a cliff where they stood shoulder-to-shoulder, watching the clouds swirl and drift. Only after a long while did he finally speak.

"Tell me of your experiences over these years."

Chen Xianzhu began to speak slowly, recounting the experiences of these years.

As he spoke, Eldrin finally understood that Chen Xianzhu had been hunted down by the Great Desert Celestial Sand Domain back then, and had only escaped by plunging into the unfathomable depths of the dimensional void.

Thereafter, I met Susu, only to part ways forever after another fleeting 100 years. It wasn't until a full million years later that my injuries were completely healed.

Seizing this opportunity, Chen Xianzhu broke through his limits and emerged reborn. Through this cycle of destruction and rebirth, he comprehended his own path and mastered the forbidden domain, thus giving rise to the cataclysmic spectacle now unfolding.

After understanding the cause and effect, Eldrin’s gaze turned icy as he asked, “What do you intend to do about the enmity from back then?”