Chapter 1899 : The Price of Time and Karma

"Let it be. These two strands of Karma [the metaphysical principle of cause and effect, binding actions to their future consequences], I shall repay them slowly in the days to come."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly to himself, finally withdrawing his thoughts.

He returned directly to the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain, and after conversing with his parents and many old acquaintances, he ultimately used the Great Encompassing Marvelous Art [a supreme cultivation method of profound transformation] to perform Foundation Reforging [a divine ability that reforges a cultivator's foundational potential] for them, setting them once more upon the path of cultivation.

During the Foundation Reforging, Eldrin Chen expended a considerable amount of Primordial Unity Rare Treasure [a rare treasure of primordial, unified essence] and Great Encompassing Rare Treasure [a rare treasure of vast, all-encompassing power], even including Rare Spiritual Wonders [extraordinarily precious spiritual materials] of the Innate Treasure [a treasure born from the primal chaos of creation] grade.

Having received such Opportunity and Fortune [a great chance and stroke of destiny], their innate talents were elevated to a level nearly comparable to that of an Innate Divine Spirit [a divine being born from the primal forces of heaven and earth], ensuring they would face no barriers in breaking through to at least the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of an Earth Immortal, a powerful terrestrial immortal].

After completing all this, Eldrin Chen returned to his Seclusion Chamber to begin healing his wounds.

Summoning everyone had also caused Eldrin Chen to suffer backlash from the Power of Time [the fundamental and often corrosive force governing the flow of time]. While the injury from each individual was minuscule, the cumulative effect was a force not to be underestimated.

Wounds inflicted by this Power of Time were notoriously tenacious, nearly impossible to dispel through conventional means.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen possessed an extraordinary foundation, and the injuries were not severe. After thirty thousand years, he finally managed to expel the temporal wounds.

The price was the consumption of several precious Healing Immortal Pill [a miraculous pill capable of healing even profound immortal-level injuries]. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel`com.

Until this day, Eldrin Chen had fully Recovered [restored to a previous state of power or health] his cultivation base [the foundational power level of a cultivator]. Emerging from his Seclusion Chamber, he found Exquisite Jiang had been waiting for him for quite some time.

Seeing him exit seclusion, Exquisite Jiang smiled and said, "Husband, your Great Encompassing Immortal Banquet is about to begin."

"..."

Primordial Immortal Domain, Endless Heaven.

A single Primordial Domain is divided into three layers: the Upper Firmament Heaven [the highest celestial realm], the Mortal Dust Domain [the mortal world], and the Netherworld Domain [the underworld].

And 'Endless Heaven' is one of the three thousand Upper Firmament Heaven within the Primordial Immortal Domain, and also one of the eight hundred celestial realms governed by the Human Race Immortal Court.

"Dang—"

"Dang—"

"Dang..."

On this day, a series of bell tolls suddenly echoed from high above in the Upper Firmament Heaven.

Within the vast expanse of the Primordial Immortal Domain, countless Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality through cultivation] heard the tolling of the bell. They could not help but look up, their faces etched with astonishment.

There, upon the Heavenly Vault [the highest celestial dome], a colossal golden bell spanned the horizon between heaven and earth. It resembled a supreme Immortal Treasure [a divine artifact of unparalleled power] capable of cleaving Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation]. With but a thought, it could forge a multiverse of Space-Time [the fabric of reality encompassing dimensions and time], its mere emanated pressure sufficient to suppress an entire sea of worlds and rend the boundless Chaos Void [the infinite emptiness beyond creation].

"It is the Human Sovereign Bell,"

someone murmured, recognizing the origin of this golden bell.

The Human Sovereign Bell is the ultimate treasure of the Human Race Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of humanity]. Its might echoes through the ages, a legend stating it bears the Fortune [the collective destiny and prosperity] of the entire Human Race, a power even the Demon Race Heavenly Emperor [the supreme ruler of the demonic races] views with apprehension.

Yet, the Human Sovereign Bell does not toll lightly. For any individual, to have the bell ring for them is the highest honor, for each peal signifies the birth of a new paramount powerhouse within the Human Race Immortal Court.

"Bong—"

The bell tolled nine times in succession, its lingering echoes only gradually fading into silence.

As the final echo vanished, excitement surged through the multitude of Human Race Immortal. Yet, beside the Endless Heaven [a specific celestial realm], within another Heavenly Domain, several figures of the Demon Race wore expressions of icy gloom. One among them spoke:

"Nine tolls for an Immortal Lord [a lord among immortals], eighty-one for an Imperial Lord [an imperial lord, a ruler among realms]. The emergence of a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a Heavenly Emperor born from Chaos, a sovereign of cosmic order] would see it ring for three thousand six hundred peals."

"The bell has tolled nine times this occasion. This signifies the birth of a new Great Encompassing Immortal Lord."

Upon another celestial terrace, a different Demon Race Imperial Lord mused thoughtfully, "I have heard that during this Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal], the Human Race has produced nine Great Encompassing Golden Immortals, while our Demon Race has only produced five. They have truly overshadowed us this time."

"Hmph."

The speaker from before let out a cold laugh and continued, "This is the first to host an Immortal Banquet. By convention, this one is the leader among the Human Race's nine new Great Encompassing Golden Immortals."

"Come. Let us summon our clan's newly ascended Great Encompassing Immortal Lords. We shall go and test his mettle."

"..." Continue your cultivation journey at *audio-novel.com*.

Meanwhile, as the echoes of the bell faded away...

The Endless Heaven [a legendary celestial realm] slowly opened, and from across the heavens and earth, one peerlessly elegant figure after another came soaring forth.

Some arrived astride Seven-Colored Immortal Phoenixes that parted the skies, others in chariots drawn by Colossal Chaos Fiends [primordial beasts of chaos], and still others clad in resplendent armor.

Each of these figures possessed an aura of supreme nobility. A mere wisp of their aura, even if casually released, seemed capable of extinguishing an entire Great Universe. Even their attendants were peerless Ancient Immortals whose names shook the Myriad Heavens.

From the Great Encompassing Ancient Sect, the Hundred Schools of Thought, and the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races, one peerless Great Encompassing Golden Immortal after another arrived, treading upon the void. Before anyone realized it, Endless Heaven had already gathered several thousand Great Encompassing Golden Immortals.

Yet, these figures of unparalleled elegance and talent were still not the main focus of this grand banquet.

Falling Star Xuan's expression was one of extreme nervousness. She stood cautiously in an unoccupied corner with her two senior sisters, observing the vast immortal feast, not daring to speak above a whisper.

This was her first time attending a Great Encompassing Immortal Banquet and her first time witnessing several thousand Great Encompassing Golden Immortals gathered in one place. The sheer scale of it all was utterly terrifying to her.

Within this supremely glorious immortal realm, countless pavilions, terraces, and towers floated within the Heavenly Vault, each one occupied by a figure of resplendent majesty.

Each of them possessed an aura that could churn the Endless Chaos and awe the Myriad Heavens and all realms. Every single one was a figure of Great Encompassing Immortal Lord stature.

Even though the vast majority had restrained their auras, the sheer, unapproachable pressure they exuded was enough to make her feel as if her very liver and gall were about to rupture.

"This is too terrifying,"

Falling Star Xuan muttered under her breath. Suddenly, she noticed a young maiden beside her, casually sipping on Immortal Artifact nectar [a divine wine brewed from immortal ingredients]. She was momentarily stunned.

Recovering slightly, she noted the girl's gentle aura and couldn't help but ask, "Little sister, did you also come here accompanying a senior from your sect?"

The young maiden glanced at Falling Star Xuan, then rolled her eyes and continued eating, mumbling, "You're the little sister. Gentle Deer is clearly older than you."

Falling Star Xuan was momentarily taken aback but couldn't help saying, "The Immortal Lords [powerful immortal beings] haven't even started the banquet yet, and you're already feasting like this. You've got quite the nerve."

Unexpectedly, the girl just snorted and continued mumbling through a full mouth, "He's a bad person, a bad person. He took Gentle Deer's treasure and won't give it back. Gentle Deer is going to eat him into poverty."

"Eat him to death, eat him to death!"

Upon hearing this, Falling Star Xuan could only offer a wry smile. "All these Immortal Artifact [enchanted artifacts of immortal grade] delicacies and fine wines are paid for by the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body]. No matter how much you eat, you can't possibly bankrupt him."

"Oh, right." The girl's cheeks were stuffed full. She grabbed another golden roasted leg and shoved it in, her words muffled. "Doesn't matter. But the Flat Peachs [legendary peaches of immortality] are so delicious, and the phoenix bird is so fragrant. Not eating them would be such a waste."

The corner of Falling Star Xuan's mouth twitched. "That thing in your hand... is from a Chaos [a primordial state of existence] Immortal Elk..."

"Huh?" The girl froze, looking down at the deer leg in her hand. She instinctively gave it a tentative lick.

"Slurp... so fragrant..."

Immediately after, her eyes welled up with tears, and she looked on the verge of crying.

"Pfft—"

Falling Star Xuan let out a laugh and immediately said, "I was teasing you. That's a leg of immortal lamb."

The young maiden finally breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded to devour several more mouthfuls in quick succession. Eating between sobs, she mumbled, "I knew it. How could a deer leg possibly smell this divine?"

A faint smile involuntarily touched Falling Star Xuan's lips. The pure, guileless gaze of the girl before her extinguished any trace of wicked thought.

She stepped forward and began conversing with her once more, and thus time flowed onward.

Unbeknownst to them, by the time the three thousand Great Encompassing [the highest echelon of cultivators] invited to the banquet had all arrived, the vast Endless Heaven [a celestial realm of boundless expanse] suddenly fell into a profound silence.

Falling Star Xuan lifted her head, gazing towards the boundless Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome above]. Suddenly, a dazzling radiance illuminated the four directions.

It was an ethereal, milky-white immortal mist. A figure emerged from within it with measured, unhurried steps, its emanating aura casting a luminous glow across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths [the entire cosmos, encompassing all celestial and terrestrial realms].

Its form was tall and slender, draped in pristine white robes, its divine bearing peerless and unmatched!

Its entire being was encircled by three thousand manifestations of the Great Path [the fundamental laws of the cosmos and cultivation]. With merely a silent step forward, it eclipsed all brilliance between heaven and earth.

In this moment, he was the Central [the central figure or sovereign of this realm] of this heaven and earth.

"It's him?"

"It truly is him!"

Falling Star Xuan's heart skipped a beat, her face a mask of astonishment and disbelief, revealing an expression of utter incredulity.

In a daze, she recalled an event from several million years ago. Back then, she was merely a Four Tribulations Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived four heavenly tribulations]. At that time, she and her two senior sisters were undergoing trials in the Sea of Chaos [a primordial, turbulent expanse of unformed energies] near the Violet Sun Immortal Domain.

Back then, the man before her seemed to be only at the Late Celestial Immortal Realm [the advanced stage of the Celestial Immortal cultivation realm]. Who could have imagined that in the mere span of a few million years, he had already ascended to become the Central [the central figure or sovereign] of this Heavenly Domain, and the guest of honor at this grand feast of the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of the immortal realms].

"How is this possible?"

Falling Star Xuan could scarcely believe it, yet after a moment of careful scrutiny, her heart finally accepted that she had not mistaken his identity.

This realization caused a faint flush to rise on her cheeks, unsettling the normally tranquil state of her Path Heart Heavenly Pass [a profound cultivation stage representing mastery over one's inner path and heart] cultivation base.

Recalling those distant years, she had once thought Eldrin Chen was merely a direct descendant of some Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [a venerable and powerful sect of immense influence]. She had even advised him against recklessly venturing into the Sea of Chaos. Little did she imagine that after a few million years, he would have carved a path through rivers of blood and ascended to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the Golden Immortal realm, a pinnacle of cultivation representing supreme attainment] with an aura of invincibility.

There is no need to doubt the true worth of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle of cultivation, a being who has transcended the mortal coil and attained supreme power], nor is there any room to question the might of the individual before them.

This Kalpa Tribulation [a grand cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal] has produced nine Great Encompassing Golden Immortal from the Human Race, yet the person standing here is the first to hold an Immortal Banquet. The unspoken significance of this needs no elaboration.

It must be understood that the longstanding tradition of the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of the immortal realms] dictates that the first among newly ascended Great Encompassing to host such a feast is universally acknowledged as the foremost among their peers.

This distinction is not given lightly; it is a title conferred with the recognition of the various Primordial One Imperial Lord [ancient and supremely powerful sovereigns] and represents a consensus across the entire Kalpa Tribulation that this individual possesses the most formidable combat prowess.

"He…"

Falling Star Xuan's heart was shaken. He could not help but draw a deep breath and murmur, "Have my eyes deceived me?"

At that very moment, Falling Star Xuan started slightly. He saw that peerlessly elegant Immortal Lord [a high-ranking immortal official] lift his gaze, meet his eyes, and offer a slight, knowing nod with a faint smile.

"That scoundrel actually knows you?"

The young maiden beside him paused, a piece of celestial delicacy in her hand. She wrinkled her nose and grumbled about Remembrance Path, "You should be careful. That villain borrows things and never returns them. He's utterly wicked."

"This girl…"

Upon hearing the voice, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile inwardly.

Ever since his breakthrough into the Great Encompassing realm, Gentle Deer had been pestering him daily about those three strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a supreme spiritual light embodying the concept of innate, unbreakable durability].

He had intended to give her the Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Divine Spark [a divine spark born from primordial chaos, containing the essence of indestructibility], but the matter was temporarily shelved due to insufficient Violet Aura [a high-grade, violet-hued spiritual energy]. As this affair was of great importance, he could not openly discuss the Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Divine Spark, leading the girl to mutter daily about him being a bad person.

"So be it, a bad person I am,"

Eldrin Chen mused silently to himself. He withdrew his gaze and stepped forward to engage with the assembled Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme realm of cultivation, representing the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal stage].

There were over three thousand Great Encompassing Golden Immortal present. Getting acquainted with each would require considerable time, but fortunately, this immortal banquet was to last for more than three thousand years, granting Eldrin Chen ample opportunity to interact with them all, one by one.

However, not long after Eldrin Chen's arrival, the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the heavens] once again resonated with the harmonious strains of immortal music.

"The Great Center Imperial Lord has arrived!"

"The Tai Cang Divine Emperor has arrived..."

Following these successive announcements, the expressions of all present shifted subtly. Eldrin Chen himself was momentarily taken aback.

The Great Center Imperial Lord was the founding ancestor of the Taiyang Clan. His cultivation had reached the Primordial One Imperial Lord Realm [the pinnacle realm of an Imperial Lord], and he was also one of the Seventy-Two Sages of the Human Race, his power unfathomably profound.

The Immortal Clan [a clan of cultivators who have achieved immortality] he founded, the Taiyang Clan, was the seventh Primordial Era Immortal Clan [an Immortal Clan dating back to the dawn of time] of the Human Race. A single clan boasted three Primordial One Imperial Lord [supreme experts at the peak of the Imperial Lord realm]. One could imagine the sheer magnitude of their prestige and hidden strength.

As for the Tai Cang Divine Emperor, his combat prowess shook the heavens. This figure was one of the nine Great God Emperors of the Divine Clan [a clan of beings with divine bloodlines]. His cultivation had already reached the Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage, placing him among the very elite even amidst other Primordial One Imperial Lord.

If the presence of the Great Center Imperial Lord at this Immortal Banquet could be attributed to shared kinship within the Human Race, then the appearance of the Tai Cang Divine Emperor was truly unexpected.

"Great Center Imperial Lord, Tai Cang Divine Emperor…"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, already surmising the purpose of their visit.

Sure enough, as the words faded, two figures tore through the void and arrived.

Clad in pristine white robes, the Great Center Imperial Lord exuded an aura of refined elegance. Accompanied by his clan's Imperial Scion, Unfettered Great Center, he spoke with a gentle smile, "I heard that during the trials of Path Tribulation [a tribulation related to one's cultivation path] and Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic-scale calamity], you, young friend, offered significant aid to my grandson here."

"Today, having come to meet you in person, I find your bearing truly peerless. It seems you are destined to walk among our ranks in the future."

The assembled Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [Golden Immortals who have attained the Great Encompassing realm] present were inwardly startled by these words, their gazes involuntarily turning towards Eldrin Chen.

The Great Center Imperial Lord was a supreme figure at the Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage. To receive such high praise from him, Eldrin Chen truly must possess the potential to reach the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm [the pinnacle of cultivation, where one's will becomes one with the fundamental laws of the cosmos].

"You honor me too much, Senior,"

Eldrin Chen replied promptly, clasping his hands in a respectful salute.

The Great Center Imperial Lord smiled faintly, casting a glance at the Unfettered Great Center standing beside him. The latter immediately stepped forward and presented a jade case.

"A small token for our first meeting, to congratulate you on attaining the Path," he said.

Eldrin Chen accepted the case. Though he did not open it immediately, he could sense a torrent of Innate Spiritual Radiance [a pure, primordial light that is the essence of spiritual energy] surging within. He understood instantly that a gift from a Primordial One Imperial Lord was anything but ordinary.

Meanwhile, the Tai Cang Divine Emperor waited for their pleasantries to conclude before turning his gaze to Eldrin Chen. "I hear you have taken my youngest son under your wing as a Divine General?"

Eldrin Chen's heart quaked. He had assumed Diyang Tai Cang was merely an ordinary Imperial Scion of the Tai Cang Imperial Clan.

If he was the Divine Emperor's own son, with the Tai Cang Divine Emperor's vast resources—easily a hundred times greater than those of Great God Vast Azure—why would he need to pursue the mere Opportunity and Fortune [the confluence of chance and destiny that can alter one's path] offered by the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth [a legendary art said to allow rebirth after enduring one hundred heavenly tribulations]?

As if reading his thoughts, the Tai Cang Divine Emperor spoke calmly, "That Great God Vast Azure was my third disciple. I sent Diyang to see if, after the hundred tribulations, he could aid in his master's revival and return."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a profound tremor in his heart, instantly comprehending the cause and effect of the entire matter.

It turned out that Great God Vast Azure was a disciple of Tai Cang Divine Emperor. However, because he had perished at the hands of a certain Chaos Demon Sovereign from an outer realm, even Tai Cang Divine Emperor had not dared to intervene and rescue him.

Now, seeing that the power of the sword strike left by that Chaos Demon Sovereign was nearly exhausted, Tai Cang Divine Emperor had sent Diyang Tai Cang to undertake a trial by fire. This journey also served to see if, during the next Hundred Tribulations Rebirth [a legendary cycle of death and rebirth through countless trials], he could assist Great God Vast Azure in resurrecting and returning.

Having grasped all of this, Eldrin Chen felt a moment of profound enlightenment.

No wonder Diyang Tai Cang dared to claim the title of Divine Sovereign True Seed [a cultivator with the innate potential to become a Divine Sovereign]. He cultivated the power of the Polarity Great Path [the supreme path of opposing cosmic forces], and as the trueborn son of Tai Cang Divine Emperor, he indeed possessed the potential to forge the foundation of a Divine Sovereign. Find this and other novels at audio-novel-dot-com.