Chapter 1955 : Eternal Flames and Chaotic Wars

Although it was decided to sell the Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill [a legendary pill said to grant ten cycles of rebirth and immense power] to obtain the Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a primordial and unbreakable radiance of pure spiritual essence].

However, Eldrin Chen understood clearly in his heart that this portion of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light could only resolve part of the issue. The greater need would have to be met through a steady, long-term trade, a trickle that could not immediately fill the vast and urgent deficit they currently faced.

Fortunately, Grand Luo Golden Immortals [the highest echelon of immortal cultivators] possessed boundless lifespans and were eternal foundations that did not fall into Samsara [the endless cycle of death and rebirth]. There was no absolute necessity for them to rush their breakthrough immediately. After all, countless individuals had been stuck for over a thousand Kalpa Tribulations [cosmic cycles of immense duration and cataclysmic change], unable to assail the Mid-Great Immortal Realm [a profound stage within the highest immortal cultivation realms].

Eldrin Chen suppressed the thoughts in his mind. Suddenly remembering something, his expression grew solemn as he spoke, "During the years you were in seclusion for your breakthrough, some rather troubling news has circulated."

"Troubling news?"

Upon hearing this, Lyra Jiang's brow furrowed slightly.

Eldrin Chen nodded and then said, "Word from the front lines has arrived. Departing Flame Demi-Progenitor [a powerful being one step below a true Progenitor, associated with flame] has decided to withdraw his forces."

At these words, Lyra Jiang's countenance shifted subtly.

So, in this imperceptible manner, the Chaotic War [a cataclysmic conflict spanning realms and factions], which had raged for more than two Kalpa Tribulations, had finally drawn to a close.

In truth, over a Kalpa Tribulation ago, as both sides suffered increasingly grievous losses, this Chaotic War had already entered a stage of protracted stalemate.

Over these years, neither the Grand Luo Golden Immortals of the Human Race nor the Chaotic Fiendgods under the command of Departing Flame Demi-Progenitor were willing to continue the fight any longer.

Departing Flame Demi-Progenitor persisted in the war for two Kalpa Tribulations. Initially, they held the advantage and managed to breach several mid to Low-Grade Immortal Domains. However, as time passed and the various Immortal Domains began forming alliances for mutual protection, it became exceedingly difficult for them to break through these Immortal Domains.

Since they could gain no further advantage and lacked the resolve for a decisive, final confrontation, there was simply no reason to prolong the conflict.

Thus, not long ago, Departing Flame Demi-Progenitor ordered the major Chaos Nests under his command to begin an orderly withdrawal, intending to bring an end to this Chaotic War that had spanned two Kalpa Tribulations.

Logically, the end of the Chaotic War should be a good thing for them, yet at this moment, both Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang wore expressions of solemn gravity.

For once the Chaotic War concluded, Departing Flame Emperor Lord would no longer interfere with the Great Dao Contention [the grand struggle for supremacy over the fundamental principles of existence] within the Eastern Departure Flame Domain.

Thinking of this, Lyra Jiang sighed and said, "Perhaps war is about to descend upon us once more."

"We shall defend from within our fortress-city; we should have nothing to fear,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head, his tone resolute and firm.

Hearing this, Lyra Jiang also nodded in agreement. The current Seven Immortal Domains of the Abyss Formation [a powerful defensive formation linking seven immortal realms] was more than capable of withstanding attacks from several Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection cultivators. Their safety was indeed sufficiently assured.

Returning to the main narrative, in the ensuing epochs, the various Grand Luo of the Chen Immortal Clan ceased their ventures abroad, choosing instead to cultivate in seclusion within the Immortal Domain.

While cultivating in seclusion, the Grand Luo of the Chen Immortal Clan also prepared for war with utmost caution, guarding against potential sieges by other Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

Yet, to everyone's astonishment, tens of millions of years passed in succession, bringing the era of the impending Eruption of the Sixth Great Tribulation ever closer, and still no one came to assault the Abyssal Immortal Domain.

"Could it be that Pure Yang Immortal Lord failed to invite other Grand Luo Golden Immortal who cultivate different Great Daos [the supreme cosmic principles]?"

As the five hundred million year grand longevity celebration drew near, Verdant Consort voiced her puzzlement.

Eldrin Chen shook his head. He performed a divination with his fingers, but found the heavenly secrets [the cosmic patterns and fate] within the Chaos to be murky and obscure; even he could scarcely divine what might transpire should he step beyond the Abyssal Immortal Domain.

For Eldrin Chen, with his True Spirit Divine Ability [a supreme divination art], to find it difficult to fully foresee the consequences of leaving the Immortal Domain, only two possibilities remained.

The first was that nothing of significance would occur at all. The second was that someone had employed a secret art of heavenly secrets to deliberately obfuscate fate's threads.

Pondering this, Eldrin Chen fell silent for a moment before finally speaking. "The heavenly secrets are murky. I, too, find it difficult to divine what leaving the Immortal Domain might bring."

"Yet none of this is of paramount importance. For us, the most crucial task remains elevating our own cultivation and power."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. Verdant Consort then spoke, "In recent times, I have accumulated sufficient foundation and can now attempt to break through to the Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal realm."

"I shall continue my secluded cultivation to see if I can complete this breakthrough."

Eldrin Chen nodded upon hearing this, a faint smile gracing his lips.

Verdant Consort possessed an innate Chaos foundation [a primordial and supreme cultivation base]. She did not need to refine Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a primordial, unbreakable essence of light used to mend foundational flaws] to compensate for her foundational aptitude. Therefore, breaking through to Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal would not consume any Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to Ethan Chen, Lila, and Yvonne the Violet Consort and asked, "When will the three of you be able to attempt your breakthrough?"

"Our accumulation is nearly complete. We should be able to attempt that step before the next Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial marking the end of a cosmic cycle] arrives,"

Ethan Chen replied, a smile touching his lips.

Eldrin Chen nodded. This group of Grand Luo Golden Immortal cultivators, including Verdant Consort, had all attained the Grand Luo realm around the same time. Over the years, the cultivation resources they had received were roughly equivalent, and now their mastery of the Great Dao had reached the third and perfect stage of Grand Luo Golden Immortal.

This pace was considered exceptionally swift among Grand Luo Golden Immortal cultivators.

The primary reasons were the abundant resources seized during several major battles and the nourishing feedback from their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivation.

This is because, when the foundational cultivation bases are relatively comparable, the cultivation level of the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] will nourish and enhance one's comprehension of the Great Dao. Furthermore, a Mid-Great Immortal Realm [a high-level cultivation stage] Primordial Spirit provides immense support for comprehending the Great Dao.

After all, comprehending the Great Dao at the early Grand Luo [the Grand Unity stage] level with a Mid-Great Immortal Realm Primordial Spirit is essentially a matter of viewing things from a superior vantage point, which drastically reduces the difficulty of such comprehension. This is not to mention the significant advantage a True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a perfected and purified spiritual core] inherently possesses in Dao comprehension.

It can be said that after the group achieved a True Spirit Primordial Spirit at the Mid-Great Immortal Realm level, their speed in comprehending a Minor Achievement-level Great Dao became at least ten times faster than that of an ordinary Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a Golden Immortal at the Grand Unity stage].

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "The remaining Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a primordial and unbreakable spiritual energy] in my possession is scarce, sufficient only for three individuals to attempt a breakthrough to the Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal [Mid-Grand Unity Golden Immortal] realm."

"Let us prioritize its use for Ethan, Lila, and Yvonne the Violet Consort."

Upon hearing this, no one present voiced any objection.

Although Lulu and Ao Hong were also qualified to attempt a breakthrough to Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal, their combat prowess could not match that of the aforementioned three. Moreover, distinctions in closeness of relation naturally played a role.

After handing the final dozen or so strands of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light to the trio, Eldrin Chen instructed, "Go into seclusion now. See if you can achieve the Mid-Great Immortal Realm breakthrough before the Kalpa Tribulation [the cosmic cycle of calamity and renewal] descends."

The three departed, their expressions tinged with joy and anticipation.

After seeing them off, Eldrin Chen returned once more to his secluded cultivation chamber.

Since his breakthrough to the Mid-Grade Great Luo Body, nearly two Kalpa Tribulation [a grand cosmic cycle of immense duration] had passed unnoticed. During these two cycles, Eldrin Chen's physical cultivation had advanced swiftly, bringing him to the very threshold of the Fifth Layer of the Great Luo Physique.

Recently, Eldrin Chen felt his foundation had solidified sufficiently to refine another Great Luo Immortal Pill [a supreme pill for enhancing the Great Luo physique] and Indestructible Golden Fruit [a legendary fruit that grants unyielding resilience]. Thus, he decided to prioritize the breakthrough of his physical cultivation.

Upon entering the secluded cultivation chamber, Eldrin Chen immediately consumed one Great Luo Immortal Pill.

As the pill's essence was refined, he felt the abundant primordial energy within his body finally reach its absolute peak. Then, like a dam bursting, it surged forth with overwhelming force.

There was no bottleneck. Eldrin Chen only felt his physical form begin a continuous sublimation, undergoing an ultimate metamorphosis and growth.

An immeasurable time later, when Eldrin Chen awoke from his seclusion, he discovered that every single cell within him now erupted with torrential Primordial Chaos Qi [the primordial energy from which all creation emerged]. Each wisp and strand radiated an aura capable of annihilating the Myriad Heavens [the countless realms and dimensions of existence].

"The Fifth Layer of the Great Luo Physique."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly. A faint smile touched his lips as he clenched his fist, testing his newfound power.

Sensing inwardly, he found the accumulated primordial essence within him had been fully expended. This breakthrough had elevated his physical combat prowess by approximately half again.

With this advancement, Eldrin Chen's physical strength alone now stood at the pinnacle of the Grand Luo Seventh Layer. He was powerful enough to contend with the foremost experts among Seventh Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal cultivators.

The overall strength had also seen a certain degree of improvement, increasing by roughly ten to twenty percent compared to its original level.

Do not underestimate this mere ten to twenty percent. Eldrin Chen originally possessed the combat power of an Eighth Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal. An increase of ten to twenty percent on that foundation was almost equivalent to adding the power of more than half a Seventh Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal.

"My strength has grown once more. Now, if I were to face those three again, I should be able to handle them with much greater ease," he mused.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen retrieved a radiant Pure Yang Immortal Sword from his sleeve.

This immortal sword was the very Spiritual Treasure [a cultivator's soul-bound magical artifact] of Pure Yang Immortal Lord. Since obtaining it, Eldrin Chen had continuously attempted to refine it, yet he had always struggled to erase a core Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] imprint within it.

Now, with his cultivation base elevated once more, Eldrin Chen immediately prepared to continue its refinement.

"*Hummm—*"

Behold, Eldrin Chen exerted his full power. Surging Chaos Fire [a primordial flame born from chaos] relentlessly scorched the Pure Yang Immortal Sword, yet it still proved difficult to refine the core imprint.

Eldrin Chen had anticipated this. He continued, summoning his True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the perfected spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] to aid in the refinement, and also drew forth the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] origin power from within his body, channeling it into the sword.

With the augmentation of these manifold forces, the Chaos Fire finally surpassed the limits of the imprint, utterly grinding it into nothingness.

"Ah—!"

At the same moment, far beyond the borders of the Abyssal Immortal Domain, within the Depths of Chaos, a figure robed in snow-white suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

This was precisely the Pure Yang Immortal Lord. The instant his life-bound immortal sword was refined, the Pure Yang Immortal Lord felt his eyes nearly burst from their sockets, unleashing a roar of unparalleled shock and fury.

"Eldrin, the Abyssal Brat, you deserve death!"

The Pure Yang Immortal Lord was driven nearly to the brink of madness, almost unable to restrain himself from stepping into the Abyssal Immortal Domain to hunt down Eldrin Chen.

But just at that moment, several figures suddenly blocked his path.

These individuals were the Primordial Chaos Kui Ox, the Primordial Silver Dragon, and several other Grand Luo Golden Immortal who cultivated great Daos such as Chaos Metal and Profound Nether.

"Fellow Daoist, do not act on impulse."

The Primordial Chaos Kui Ox firmly held him back, his expression grave as he spoke: "If you make a move, all of us will be exposed. I fear we would then lose any chance to lay an ambush for him."

Yet the Pure Yang Immortal Lord's eyes were filled with profound gloom, his face contorted with extreme rage: "This Eldrin, the Abyssal Brat is like a turtle in its shell, not venturing beyond his gates for several entire Kalpa Tribulation. Tell me, how are we supposed to ambush him?"

Upon hearing this, the group fell into a contemplative silence.

They had lain in ambush outside the Abyssal Immortal Domain for an entire Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle], hoping to find an opportunity to surround and slay Eldrin Chen.

Yet, to their utter astonishment, not only had Eldrin Chen himself never once ventured beyond the Abyssal Immortal Domain, but even the Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle cultivators of the Grand Luo realm] of the Abyssal Immortal Alliance had not left the Abyssal Eight Immortal Domains for a full Kalpa Tribulation.

This left them with no chance to capture one of his allies and use them to coerce Eldrin Chen.

Contemplating this, an Wuji Immortal Lord [a lord of the Primordial Limitless] who cultivated the Source Earth Great Dao [the Great Dao of the Primal Earth] pondered for a moment before speaking with a tone of cold detachment. "Another Kalpa Tribulation approaches. If things continue this way, it seems we will find no opening during this cycle."

"Endless waiting is no solution. In my view, we should find a way to force him out."

"Force him out?"

The others frowned slightly at these words.

The Pure Yang Immortal Lord [a lord of the Unblemished Yang] immediately turned his gaze to the Wuji Immortal Lord and could not help but ask, "How would we force him out?"

The Wuji Immortal Lord pondered briefly before replying, "This Eldrin, the Abyssal Daoist leans upon the legacy of the Lunar Emperor Lord. He likely lacks for no cultivation resources. Moreover, he has entrenched himself within his Immortal Domain [a cultivator's personal realm] for years. There seems to be no leverage we can grasp."

"However, from what I know, this Eldrin, the Abyssal Daoist has four sons and one daughter. Perhaps we can find a way to capture one of them to force him out."

The Earthen Core EssenceImmortal Lord sneered coldly as he continued, "Among his four sons, the third son and the fourth daughter cultivate by his side. The second son has become a disciple under Black Abyss Great Emperor, and the youngest is the direct lineage successor of a Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage. Capturing any of them would be exceedingly difficult for us."

"Only the eldest son has taken the path of Buddhism, cultivating alone in seclusion within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains. He is the one we can seize."

Upon hearing this, the assembled figures fell into a heavy silence.

The Primordial Silver Dragon's expression shifted slightly, and he could not help but speak out, "We are Grand Luo Golden Immortal. To stoop to capturing an Ancient Immortal in order to slay our foe... it is utterly beneath our dignity."

"I cannot partake in such a deed."

With those words, the Primordial Silver Dragon snorted coldly and departed directly from that expanse of Chaos.

The Wuji Immortal Lord's pupils contracted with a cold glint as he watched the departing figure. He sneered, "A stray dog with no home to return to, yet still putting on airs of lofty pride."

The expressions of the others present also turned rather unpleasant upon hearing this.

The Pure Yang Immortal Lord, known as the gentleman among immortals, did not leave immediately this time. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Who shall undertake this task?"

Upon hearing this, everyone, somewhat unexpectedly, turned their gazes toward Pure Yang Immortal Lord.

A Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal who has transcended the cycle of life and death] does not fall into Samsara [the cycle of death and rebirth], and thus has no fear of partings or death; what they value most is their face, their honor and reputation.

Bullying the weak is one thing, but stooping so low as to capture an Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has cultivated for an extremely long time] merely to threaten a powerful foe is an act of profound disgrace.

Once word spread, for all the endless eons to come, he would be nailed to the pillar of shame, and this deed would become an indelible stain upon his name.

Furthermore, the principle that 'the sins of the father shall not be visited upon the son' holds true. Once such a line is crossed, the unspoken rules among Grand Luo Golden Immortal would be shattered. This is absolutely not a good thing, for which of those present here does not have kin, Dao companions, disciples, or followers?

Thus, none wished to undertake this distasteful task, and so all eyes turned toward the one who had suffered the greatest loss: Pure Yang Immortal Lord.

Pure Yang Immortal Lord's expression shifted repeatedly, finally settling into one of cold detachment. "So be it," he declared. "To reclaim the Pure Yang Immortal Sword [a legendary sword of pure yang energy], this sovereign shall play the part of the villain."

Unaware of the sinister plots brewing in the outside world was Eldrin Chen.

He could never have imagined that a group of lofty, supreme adversaries on the Great Dao would so debase themselves, stooping to target Xianzhu Chen.

Having successfully refined the Pure Yang Immortal Sword, Eldrin Chen was in excellent spirits. He directly summoned nine individuals: Qingfeng Ye, Wen Yuan Lu, Purifying Bamboo [a sentient spiritual plant], Xianqing Chen, Xianchang Chen, Yuansheng, Frostwing Yan, Alaric Lu, and Yinghui Ye.

These nine individuals were all disciples who cultivated the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a profound and demanding cultivation art that requires immense personal sacrifice], and they were also the ones with the potential to attain the Dao and become Grand Luo Golden Immortals [the supreme, transcendent state of immortality] during this impending Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal].