Chapter 1893 : Forging the Abyss Seal

"Hmmmm—"

As the words of Eldrin Chen fell, the Returning Abyss Seal emitted a faint spiritual glow, revealing a hint of joyous emotion.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but reveal a slight smile. He then refined it into his body and began to comprehend the power of the Returning Abyss Seal.

This Returning Abyss Seal truly lived up to its status as a True Spirit Supreme Treasure. Although its grade was only at the level of a Lower Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, its power far surpassed that realm, even exceeding that of a Mid-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure and reaching the level of an Upper Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.

Such a powerful supreme treasure typically required immense consumption to activate. In principle, one would need at least the cultivation base of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage to barely have the capability to wield it.

Fortunately, compared to ordinary Innate Spiritual Treasures, a True Spirit Treasure reduced the consumption of spiritual energy required for activation by ninety percent. With Eldrin Chen's current cultivation and spiritual energy reserves, he could now barely manage to activate it.

"Now that the True Spirit Treasure has been forged, it is time to break through the Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Pass."

Understanding the might of the Returning Abyss Seal, Eldrin Chen murmured to himself. For an Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal, the path to breaking through to Great Encompassing Golden Immortal was fundamentally defined by three crucial steps.

These were respectively: 'Grasping Fate', 'Great Encompassing', and 'Path Union'.

Among these three steps, the first—seizing control of one's Destiny—required one to use their supreme personal strength to forcibly sever the tributary of Destiny belonging solely to them within the River of Destiny, and then fuse it into their own being. Experience the full epic at audio_novel.com.

Only those who have grasped the Destiny [the predetermined course of fate and fortune] can be said to have shattered the Ninth Heavenly Pass and earned the qualification to prove their path to Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

However, fate is ethereal and elusive, while fortune fluctuates like the tides of the sea. When the two combine into Destiny, it becomes ever-changing and inscrutable.

If one cannot break through to Great Encompassing Golden Immortal in an extremely short time after shattering the Destiny Heavenly Pass, then their Destiny will shift, causing them to fall back to the realm of an Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal. Furthermore, their Destiny will become increasingly obscure and difficult to grasp, making it nearly impossible to shatter the Destiny Heavenly Pass again.

The second step of Great Encompassing is to cultivate the Great Encompassing Foundation.

The so-called Great Encompassing Foundation involves integrating the Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a primordial, unbreakable spiritual radiance] into one's physical body, Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], Great Path [one's fundamental cultivation law], and other Great Path Foundation. This integration causes them to transform into a complete Great Encompassing Physique, Great Encompassing Primordial Spirit, and Great Encompassing Great Path.

Among these Great Encompassing Foundation, integrating just a single strand of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light is considered stepping into the realm of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

This step requires ascending to an Immortal Domain to obtain the Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light.

However, Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light is exceedingly rare. Therefore, the vast majority of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal must make choices and compromises regarding their foundational aspects.

Before breaking through to Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, most Great Encompassing Golden Immortal will focus solely on cultivating their most critical Great Path. Only after mastering it will they turn back to shore up the deficiencies in their other foundations.

Those who can advance their physical body, Primordial Spirit, and other foundations in parallel are exceedingly rare. The consumption of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light required for such an approach is simply too vast, and the boost to combat prowess it provides is not necessarily significant.

As for the third step, Path Union, it is the final stage of breaking through to Great Encompassing.

The 'Path Union' required to break through to Great Encompassing is different from the 'Path Union' of the Second Chaos Realm; this type of Path Union is more fundamental and primordial.

So-called Great Encompassing Path Union involves directly drawing upon the Great Path Origin [the fundamental source energy of a cosmic principle] from within the Sea of the Great Path [the metaphysical ocean containing all cosmic principles] and merging the Great Path [a supreme cosmic principle or law] one has cultivated with it, thereby completing, perfecting, and enhancing the power of one's Great Path Origin.

Upon completing Path Union, one becomes a true Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [an immortal who has merged with a cosmic principle]. Beings of this level gain partial authority over the Great Path they have cultivated.

From that moment onward, a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal can fuse their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] and True Spirit [the true spiritual essence] into the Great Path, receiving the protection of the Great Path Origin. Even if their Primordial Spirit is utterly annihilated by another, they can be reborn from the Great Path itself, never truly facing Death.

Of course, these are secondary benefits. The most crucial aspect is that upon obtaining Great Path Authority [authority over a cosmic principle], a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal can mobilize a portion of the boundless power of the Great Path for their own use.

One must understand, the power of a Great Path is truly staggering.

Even a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, who holds only the most minuscule shred of authority, possesses might that is virtually unrivaled.

According to Eldrin Chen's understanding, over ninety percent of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal's combat prowess stems from their connection to the Great Path. The remaining foundations—their Primordial Spirit, physical body, mana, and so forth—combined account for less than ten percent.

Even an existence that has forged an Indestructibility Foundation [a foundation of unbreakable durability] derives at most twenty percent of their battle strength from their inherent foundation; it pales in comparison to the empowerment granted by the Great Path.

Therefore, whether it is the Ninth Limit or the Heavenly Pass, or even the Indestructibility Foundation, the disparity in actual combat power after breaking through to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm is not overwhelmingly vast.

In a true battle, a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal who has cultivated several Indestructibility Foundation might not be able to completely suppress the most ordinary of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal cultivators.

Of course, this pertains only to the gap in combat prowess. The chasm in potential between the Indestructibility Foundation and the Ninth Limit Foundation is as vast as the distance between the Sun and Moon.

Most who achieve the Ninth Limit Foundation can only remain at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Early Stage, while those with the Indestructibility Foundation possess the hope of stepping into the Primordial One Imperial Lord Realm.

Furthermore, as their cultivation deepens, when the Great Encompassing Physique, the Great Encompassing Primordial Spirit, and other aspects of the Indestructibility Foundation are cultivated to perfection, their power gradually approaches that granted by Great Path Authority.

Thus, upon reaching the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, the disparity in combat power between those with the Indestructibility Foundation and ordinary practitioners of the Ninth Limit or Tenth Limit Foundation widens dramatically. Moreover, the Indestructibility Foundation serves as the very keystone for advancing to the Primordial One Imperial Lord. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel.com.

"Regardless, aside from exceptional cases like Fleshly Body Sanctification or Primordial Spirit Path Attainment, beings above the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm place greater emphasis on the cultivation of the Dao [the fundamental principle and path of existence]."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his gaze growing solemn as he recalled his understanding of the Great Encompassing Realm.

No matter what, compared to the arduous journey of personal cultivation, the power bestowed by Great Path Authority is swift and immense. Even a slight increase in Great Path Authority can bring about a monumental surge in strength.

Once one employs Great Path Authority to harness the power of the Great Path [the supreme cosmic principle], whether to empower the physical body, the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], or an Innate Spiritual Treasure, it can Burst forth with a brilliance that would awe the ages.

However, achieving the third step, 'Path Union' [the stage of merging one's cultivated path with the cosmic sea of paths], is by no means an easy feat.

For even with the power of an Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has transcended countless ages], cultivating a complete Great Path [a fundamental cosmic law or principle] is insufficient to allow it to fuse with the Great Path Origin [the primordial source essence of a Great Path] residing within the Sea of the Great Path [the boundless, conceptual ocean containing all cosmic laws and principles].

Therefore, later generations devised an ingenious workaround: leveraging the power of an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme treasure born from the essence of a Great Path itself].

This is because an Innate Spiritual Treasure is a direct manifestation of a Great Path, granting it the unique ability to commune with the Sea of the Great Path.

The so-called Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Pass [the Heavenly Pass stage achieved via a Spiritual Treasure] involves merging the 'Great Path' one has cultivated into an Innate Spiritual Treasure, then using the treasure's power to draw upon the Great Path Origin force from the Primordial Chaos Great Path Sea [the primordial, chaotic version of the Sea of the Great Path].

Once the Great Path Origin is stirred, the cultivator's own Great Path can fuse with its counterpart within the Sea of the Great Path, thereby completing and perfecting the Great Path Origin power.

By using one's cultivated Great Path to complete the Great Path Origin, one not only augments the Great Path Origin's power but also gains a sliver of Great Path Authority [the authority to command a portion of a Great Path's power].

Of course, using an Innate Spiritual Treasure to channel Great Path power is merely a clever shortcut, not the only method.

In truth, a cultivator of sufficient might can directly stir the Great Path Origin without relying on an Innate Spiritual Treasure at all.

For instance, by cultivating a True Spirit Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation method of unparalleled purity and power], one can suppress all other paths, forcefully piercing through the Sea of the Great Path with the True Spirit Foundation's power to draw upon the desired Great Path force.

In fact, with their own foundational cultivation, they could completely substitute for an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme treasure born from the cultivator's own essence and path] to bear the Great Path [the supreme, fundamental laws of the cosmos].

For instance, those who have cultivated a True Spirit Physique [a body refined to the point of embodying a primordial spiritual truth] could directly channel the Great Path Origin [the primordial source energy of the Great Path]. Although the Path of Fleshly Body Sanctification [a cultivation art focused on perfecting the physical body] could not be used to comprehend the Great Path, it could use the Bloodline Divine Ability [an innate power passed down through a powerful lineage] as its foundation to draw upon the Great Path Origin and irrigate the physical form, thereby enhancing the power of the Bloodline Divine Ability.

"'Master of Fate,' 'Great Encompassing [the realm of the Great Encompassing, a supreme stage of cultivation],' 'Path Union [the realm of Path Union, where one's being merges with the Great Path].'"

"Although for someone like me, an Innate Spiritual Treasure is not required to stir the Sea of the Great Path [the boundless, conceptual ocean from which the Great Path emanates], cultivating a Path-Proving Supreme Treasure [a supreme treasure that serves as proof and anchor of one's cultivation path] remains an absolute necessity."

Recalling the various crucial aspects of the path to the Great Encompassing, Eldrin Chen finally summoned forth the Chaos Limitless Great Path [a divine ability embodying boundless, primordial chaos] and caused it to merge with the Returning Abyss Seal.

The Chaos Limitless Great Path swirled ceaselessly around the Returning Abyss Seal, and as time flowed on, it ultimately fused with the treasure into one.

"BOOM—"

At that very moment, the Returning Abyss Seal erupted with a violent, thunderous roar. A torrent of Chaos Light [primordial light born of chaos] burst forth, its radiance nearly piercing through the very fabric of the Sea of the Great Path.

Eldrin Chen was almost forced to draw upon the Sea of the Great Path, but understanding this was not the moment for a breakthrough, he swiftly and forcefully suppressed the unleashed power of the Returning Abyss Seal.

He then cast his gaze upon the Returning Abyss Seal and perceived that its resonance with him had grown astonishingly profound. The power it could now channel and unleash had subtly, yet undeniably, increased.

"My power has reached the threshold of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm. I fear I won't be able to suppress it for much longer and will soon have to make a breakthrough."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself. He hurriedly suppressed the Returning Abyss Seal completely and then surveyed his own body. He discovered that within him, a vast and surging mass of True Spirit Imprint [the fundamental, karmic essence of one's spiritual destiny] was still lingering.

This mass of True Spirit Imprint was astonishingly large, several times greater than the amount Eldrin Chen had consumed previously to ignite a single True Spirit Aperture [a profound spiritual node within a cultivator's soul]. It was likely barely sufficient to ignite all Nine True Spirit Apertures.

"There is so much True Spirit Imprint, but I cannot use it all to ignite True Spirit Aperture."

Eldrin Chen whispered. Although this abundance of True Spirit Imprint could allow him to ignite True Spirit Aperture, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] was only at the Ancient Immortal Realm level, at most equivalent to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Early Stage. It would still require a very long time to break through to the ChaosHeavenly Emperor Realm.

If he dared to ignite the Nine True Spirit Apertures at this moment, it would truly be seeking his own demise.

Therefore, after much deliberation, Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment and finally decided to fuse it into his True Spirit [the perfected spiritual essence] physical body to cultivate True Spirit Divine Runes [divine patterns formed from True Spirit essence].

In that instant, Eldrin Chen immediately mobilized this True Spirit Imprint, causing it to fully merge into his Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique of unbreakable chaos origin].

The quantity of this True Spirit Imprint was truly immense. After it was completely exhausted, it had actually managed to transform all five of his Bloodline Divine Ability [innate divine powers passed down through bloodlines] into nascent True Spirit Divine Runes.

Although these True Spirit Divine Runes were merely embryonic forms, requiring vast ages to fully gestate and mature, the formation patterns they created wove together into a Five Elements Formation Pattern [a mystical array pattern based on the interplay of the five fundamental elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth], bestowing upon him an astonishing surge of power.

Eldrin Chen raised his hand, sensing that the power of his Innate Primordial One Indestructibility Physique had increased more than threefold under the augmentation of these True Spirit Divine Runes.

In that moment, the strength of his physical body even surpassed that of his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator]. Fortunately, these five True Spirit Divine Runes were derived from the Chaos Limitless Great Path, a technique Eldrin Chen had cultivated for many years, so they did not provoke a significant rejection reaction.

"It is still manageable, but I must be careful to maintain balance in my future cultivation," he murmured to himself.

Eldrin Chen whispered, a trace of gravity flashing in his eyes. If his physical strength grew ever more powerful, potentially exceeding the power of the seven major True Spirit Divine Runes, it could absolutely suppress his other True Spirit Foundation techniques.

By that point, even he would be unable to control it. With his foundational powers consuming each other in internal conflict, his cultivation speed would likely plummet drastically.

He pushed further thoughts aside. After repeatedly consolidating his cultivation base and elevating his strength to its peak, he began preparing to condense his Great Encompassing Path Fruit.

"Hmm—"

On this day, a resonant hum, pure and tenuous, emanated from within Eldrin Chen's Seclusion Chamber.

Within the vast Seclusion Chamber, dazzling rays of light and a shroud of Chaos Mist [a primordial, formless spiritual vapor] obscured everything.

Seated within the Chaos Mist, Eldrin Chen pushed his power to its absolute limit. His Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Body, his Nine Apertures Primordial Spirit, his True Spirit Dharmic Power [the spiritual energy cultivated by a True Spirit realm expert], his Chaos Limitless Great Path, his Returning Abyss Seal—each of his True Spirit Foundation techniques radiated with vast, brilliant light.

These radiant streams, flowing like liquid light, converged and poured into the crown of Eldrin Chen's head.

There, above Eldrin Chen's head, a single Chaos Path Fruit [the ultimate fruit of cultivation representing mastery over primordial chaos] slowly coalesced, its form shifting from ethereal illusion to tangible reality as time flowed onward.

"BOOM!"

The very moment the Chaos Path Fruit solidified, the vast expanse of the Chaos Void [the primordial, formless space before creation] tore asunder once more.

From the unfathomable, lofty heights of the unknown, the Eternal True Spirit [the primordial and eternal source of all spiritual essence and destiny] again cast down its dazzling light. Countless True Spirit Imprint [fragments of spiritual essence and destiny from the Eternal True Spirit] surged forth like a tidal wave, all merging into Eldrin Chen's newly formed Chaos Path Fruit.

"The True Spirit Path Fruit [a Path Fruit empowered by the essence of the Eternal True Spirit]... is complete."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, then finally consumed this singular Path Fruit [the condensed essence and achievement of a cultivator's path].

A long while later, he opened his eyes once more, a faint smile gracing his features.

By now, he understood. The power contained within this True Spirit Path Fruit was indeed profound and boundless beyond measure.

Eldrin Chen's True Spirit Path Fruit, also known as the 'Chaos Limitless Great Encompassing Path Fruit' [the Path Fruit of Chaos, Limitlessness, and the Great Encompassing], possessed the miraculous ability to amplify all of Eldrin Chen's foundational aspects—his spiritual power, his physical body, his comprehension of the Great Path [the fundamental laws of the cosmos], his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true self of a cultivator], and more—doubling their potency.

If one were to offer a Path Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's understanding of their chosen Path] as a sacrifice, the resulting surge in power could exceed threefold.

Do not think that a mere doubling or tripling of power seems unimpressive, especially when compared to the fivefold amplification granted by the True Spirit Physique [a legendary physical constitution that embodies the power of a True Spirit] with five Great God [a powerful cultivation realm] divine patterns.

However, one must understand that the Chaos Limitless Path Fruit [a supreme Path Fruit born from the primordial Chaos, representing boundless potential] provides a comprehensive, all-encompassing amplification, representing the ultimate limit of one's foundational power.

The higher one's cultivation realm ascends, the more difficult it becomes to amplify one's combat prowess.

The strength of an ant, even multiplied a thousandfold, remains merely that of a slightly larger insect.

Yet for a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal who has attained the Great Encompassing realm], even a mere ten percent increase in power is considered significant. Moreover, once Eldrin Chen steps into the Great Encompassing [the realm of ultimate comprehension and unity], his strength will far surpass that of any ordinary practitioner of that realm.

"With my foundational roots, once I break through to the Great Encompassing, and if I sacrifice a Path Fruit, I fear my power would rank among the strong even within the ranks of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a placid light shimmering deep within his eyes.

He withdrew his thoughts and cast his senses inward, focusing on the True Spirit Imprint [a profound mark left upon one's soul by a True Spirit, representing a connection to primordial power] within his body. A subtle ripple of emotion stirred in his gaze.

Although the True Spirit Imprint gained from condensing this True Spirit Path Fruit [a Path Fruit embodying the essence of a True Spirit] could not compare to that bestowed by the Returning Abyss Seal [a powerful magical seal], it was not inferior to the imprints left by his other foundational pillars. He had acquired yet another True Spirit Imprint.

Eldrin Chen had initially contemplated integrating it into either the Song of Ages Blade or the Limitless Cosmos Sword. However, after much deliberation, he ultimately decided to abandon that course of action.

Had he been able to illuminate two True Spirit Aperture, Eldrin Chen would have undoubtedly chosen to merge the Song of Ages Blade and the Limitless Cosmos Sword.

At that point, the two True Spirit Divine Ability would have combined into a single, ultimate True Spirit-level killing move—the 'Space-Time Annihilation Great Sunder'—transforming into a trump card no less formidable than a Root Origin Treasure. Find thousands of chapters at www . audio-novel.com.