Chapter 1857 : A Pact with the Heavenly Dao

Eldrin Chen was taken aback by these words. He lifted his gaze towards that will.

"The Will of the Heavenly Dao [the sentient consciousness governing the natural order of the cosmos]?"

"It is I."

Vast Azure Heavenly Dao spoke slowly, and after a long pause, said, "If you wish to take this object, you must do me a favor."

"Oh?" A ripple of movement stirred within Eldrin Chen's eyes. He then inquired, "What favor?"

Vast Azure Heavenly Dao fell silent. A moment later, it uttered words that were startling: "The sword strike from that one in the Late Primordial Era followed the path of Space-Time as it cleaved down. After slaying my master hundreds of times in succession, it has exhausted the vast majority of its potency."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's heart was shaken by a tremendous tremor. He could not help but look towards Vast Azure Heavenly Dao and ask, "Are you saying…"

"Yes." The Heavenly Dao's Will responded, answering calmly, "If my calculations are not mistaken, this next activation of Hundred Tribulations Rebirth will be the final time my master is slain."

"In other words, if that one from back then does not strike again, the next Hundred Tribulations Rebirth will be the tribulation of my master's revival."

Eldrin Chen fell silent upon hearing this. After a moment, he spoke, "What is it you need me to do?"

The Will of the Heavenly Dao [the conscious will governing the natural order] was calm, yet it made a promise: "This Yin-Yang Myriad Crows Pot can be yours. However, when the next Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity arrives, I wish to ask for your aid in lending a hand to my master."

"Of course, this is contingent upon that individual not intervening further."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen fell into a brief, contemplative silence. After a moment, he spoke: "To truly aid Vast Azure Great God would likely require cultivation at the Grand Luo realm at the very least. You certainly think highly of me."

The Vast Azure Heavenly Dao was forthright, its tone unperturbed: "You possess the greatest innate talent the Vast Azure Immortal Domain has ever witnessed. Your potential to achieve the Great Luo Realm is immense. If even you cannot break through, then for the next one thousand Kalpa Tribulation cycles, it will be exceedingly difficult for anyone within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain to succeed."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. "I accept your request," he stated, "but only to the extent of my capability."

"Should I ever face a foe truly beyond my power to oppose, I may choose to stand aside."

The consciousness of the Vast Azure Heavenly Dao trembled faintly for an instant. "With your pledge, my heart is at ease," it replied after a pause. "I believe the hope for my master's revival shall be greatly increased."

"The Vast Azure Immortal Domain holds a few other legacies. Though they may not compare to this Yin-Yang Myriad Crows Pot, they are still rare treasures. You may choose to seek them out."

With those final words, the presence of the Vast Azure Heavenly Dao vanished without a trace.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen swept his sleeve, collecting the Yin-Yang Myriad Crows Pot within it. Then, with a step that shattered the Void [the empty space between dimensions], he was gone.

The moment he departed, the forbidden power of the Myriad Crows Forbidden Land began to dissipate, and it was once again restored [returned to its original, complete state] into a complete Immortal Domain.

Throughout the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, countless Ancient Immortal Great Powers sensed the change, their expressions shifting to one of astonishment.

Within the Golden Crow Celestial Domain, a figure of blinding golden radiance opened its eyes, a flicker of surprise within their gaze.

This figure was none other than Vorgath Di, the Six Tribulations Ancient Immortal of the Golden Crow Clan. He tore through the Chaos to arrive here, his eyes filled with doubt and suspicion. "The Myriad Crows Forbidden Land has vanished," he murmured. "Could it be that the Spiritual Treasure has been restored [returned to its original, complete state]?"

Almost simultaneously, several other Ancient Immortal Great Powers ripped through the Void and arrived.

Each possessed cultivation realms at the fourth or fifth layer of Ancient Immortal or higher. Yet, as they gazed upon the now-empty expanse of the Myriad Crows Forbidden Land, their complexions shifted repeatedly.

A man from the Purple Tenuity Grotto-Heaven frowned deeply, his voice low and grave. "Impossible. The Emperor Lord once divined that it would require considerable time yet for that treasure to fully achieve restoration [return to its original, complete state]."

"Furthermore," he continued, "not even a Six Tribulations Ancient Immortal could have taken that artifact."

"Then could it be..."

The countenance of an Ancient Progenitor from the Verdant Sun Divine Clan paled slightly. "Could it be," he asked with uneasy suspicion, "that a Seven Tribulation Ancient Immortal has come to the Vast Azure Immortal Domain?"

"Impossible."

Vorgath Di shook his head decisively, his gaze turning icy as he stated, "The Vast Azure Immortal Domain [the vast celestial realm where the story is set] possesses shallow foundations. Even after accumulating resources over dozens or hundreds of Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of destruction and rebirth], it could not possibly give birth to a Seven Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived seven heavenly tribulations]."

"Moreover, if such a figure truly existed, how could we remain unaware of them?"

Upon hearing this, the others present all furrowed their brows slightly, sinking back into contemplative silence.

They understood the logic in Vorgath Di's words, yet the mystery of why the Myriad Crows Forbidden Land [a perilous and forbidden territory] had suddenly vanished only deepened their perplexity.

Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen took a single step and emerged from the Myriad Crows Forbidden Land, arriving just beyond the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea [a sea of purgatorial flames in the nether abyss].

He cast his gaze towards the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea, a fleeting thought of eradicating it crossing his mind, but he suppressed the impulse in the next instant.

That Eight Tribulation Ancient Demon [an ancient demon who has survived eight heavenly tribulations] must have shattered the barrier of the Eighth Heaven [the eighth heavenly realm of cultivation]; Eldrin Chen did not believe such an entity could have been utterly annihilated.

Facing a primordial fiend of such supreme power, even if Eldrin Chen could engage it in battle, he held no certainty of being able to slay it. A true clash, ending in mutual devastation, would only further injure the foundational essence of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain.

Rather than fight such a battle now, it was better to bide his time, to wait until his combat prowess had grown by several more measures before devising a way to deal with this Eight Tribulation Ancient Demon.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen departed from the outskirts of the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea. In a single step, he shattered the Boundless Void and arrived before another distant, ancient domain—a forbidden land blanketed by glaciers.

"Fallen Phoenix Ridge."

Eldrin Chen's thoughts flickered. This was a forbidden land cloaked in ice and snow, enveloped by endless frost. Compared to the palpable terror of the Myriad Crows Forbidden Land, here, all the great Dao's laws [the fundamental principles governing reality] were withdrawn into imperceptibility. For an Ancient Immortal, it was not considered dangerous.

Yet, the moment Eldrin Chen set foot upon this place, he understood that this was the true, ultimate peril of the Mortal Realm.

"You have come."

The instant Eldrin Chen arrived, a Void portal [a gateway formed through mastery of spatial laws] slowly opened, and an ethereal voice drifted forth.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and stepped into the forbidden land. Gazing upon the peerlessly elegant woman in white robes before him, he spoke with calm composure.

"Senior, it has been a long time."

"In the brief span of a few million years, I never imagined you would attain such cultivation. It seems I can no longer claim the title of senior."

The Ancient Ice Phoenix [a primordial phoenix embodying the essence of eternal frost] let out a soft sigh and replied with serene tranquility.

Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered with subtle movement. After carefully examining the Ancient Ice Phoenix, he could not help but sigh with emotion, "The deeper my cultivation becomes, the more I comprehend the terrifying profundity of a senior like yourself."

"Perhaps I should address you as the Ice Phoenix Holy Spirit?"

As Eldrin Chen's words hung in the air, the Ancient Ice Phoenix's eyes sharpened for a fleeting instant before the intensity was reined in just as quickly.

She let out a soft sigh and then spoke, "Since my fall at the hands of the Vast Azure Great God during the battle of the Late Primordial Era, you are the first to have seen through my true origin."

The truth was, this Ancient Ice Phoenix's lineage traced back to a Chaotic Holy Spirit from the Primordial Era.

She was of the bloodline of one of the Seven Chaotic Phoenixes, her cultivation once having reached the Eight Calamities Ancient Immortal Realm. In pursuit of attaining the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, she had participated in that forbidden tribulation.

Alas, fortune did not favor her, and she perished by the Vast Azure Great God's hand. Fortunately, recognizing her extraordinary origin and potential to achieve Grand Luo, the Great God spared a wisp of her shattered soul from utter annihilation. This remnant was left within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain with the intent to subdue and recruit her in the future.

Later, when the Vast Azure Great God himself fell, this feeble remnant of the Ancient Ice Phoenix's soul relied on the Phoenix lineage's Nirvana Rebirth art to slowly undergo Restoration.

Thus, through the accumulation of countless Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles], the Ancient Ice Phoenix gradually stirred back to consciousness. Now, she lacked only one final, crucial source of energy—the primordial essence of the Vast Azure Great God himself—to achieve complete Restoration.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen sighed softly, a note of awe in his voice. "In my youth, my understanding was shallow. Only now do I truly grasp the magnitude of your power, Senior."

"Yet, upon deeper reflection, one who could be slain by Vast Azure Great God and still retain a sliver of life... it is within expectation that a senior of your stature possesses such origins."

The Ancient Ice Phoenix let out a soft sigh, then inquired, "The heart's blood of Vast Azure Great God is exceedingly precious. With your current strength, you possess the power to break our covenant. Do you intend to renege on our agreement from years past?"

Eldrin Chen shook his head, a faint smile gracing his lips. "I owe you a debt of gratitude, and my wife likewise received your grace. How could I possibly go back on my word? The pact we made then shall stand as it was."

"My purpose in coming today is to witness the depth of your foundation, senior, and to inquire about the strength of that ancient demon from the Nether Abyss Purgatory Sea."

"That Eight Tribulation Ancient Demon?"

Upon hearing this, the Ancient Ice Phoenix's gaze sharpened slightly. After a moment's pause, it spoke, "That ancient demon's origins are shrouded in mystery. I have had little contact with the outside world these years and do not know its specific background. I only know it is named 'Xuanheng the Elder Demon'."

"However, I observed that battle from long ago and have some understanding of this fiend."

"Its mastery of the Great Dao and its reservoir of spiritual power are in no way inferior to my own at the peak of my strength. Its Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] and Dao Fruit [the crystallization of one's cultivation and comprehension of the Dao] are exceptionally formidable. It is likely a monstrous fiend who has cultivated a dual Ten Limits Foundation."

"Yet, its physical body seems surprisingly weak, even considered feeble within the standards of the Fleshly Body Heavenly Barrier."

"I strongly suspect that, in ages past, this demon utilized the heavenly Dao Soldiers of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain to dissolve its physical form. It then allowed its Dao Fruit and Primordial Spirit to become tainted by the Heavenly Dao itself, all in preparation for a far more terrifying purpose."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but frown slightly, a crease forming between his brows.

After a moment of contemplation, a dreadful thought flashed through his mind. His expression shifted subtly as he could not resist asking, "Are you saying…"

"Mm."

The Ancient Ice Phoenix [a mythical bird of frost and legend] nodded, its gaze grave as it spoke. "That individual likely intends to wait until the Vast Azure Great God falls, then directly seize his physical body through soul possession."

"Thereafter, he would usurp the Heavenly Dao [the fundamental cosmic law and order of this realm] itself, sacrificing the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain to break through to the Great Luo Realm [the supreme realm of cultivation, transcending the mundane]."

Eldrin Chen drew a sharp, cold breath, his face paling slightly. "Given the overbearing and ruthless nature of the Demonic Path [a cultivation methodology that thrives on consuming others for one's own gain], if he succeeds, he would likely achieve both the Eleventh Limit [a legendary, near-unattainable pinnacle of spiritual power] Indestructible Primordial Spirit [a state where one's spiritual core becomes utterly impervious to harm] and the Indestructible Body [a physical form rendered completely unbreakable] in one fell swoop."

"The price, however, would be the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain reduced to dust."

"Wait."

Speaking to this point, Eldrin Chen suddenly thought of something, a trace of doubt coloring his voice. "Although that ancient demon is formidable, he is ultimately only at the Eight Tribulations Realm [a high but not supreme level of cultivation, having weathered eight heavenly tribulations]. How could he possibly contend against the Heavenly Dao of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain?"

The Ancient Ice Phoenix's gaze, however, grew profound and distant, its words carrying a pointed implication. "Relying on his strength alone, he naturally could not withstand the Heavenly Dao of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain. But what if he has accomplices?"

"An ally?"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly, revealing a trace of astonishment.

The Ancient Ice Phoenix nodded and spoke: "That Myriad Ghosts Frozen Cavern was left behind by the Myriad Ghosts Ancient Ancestor from the Primordial Era. In his time, the Myriad Ghosts Ancient Ancestor was also an Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal."

"The Myriad Ghosts Ancient Ancestor was indeed an Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal who perished at the hands of the Vast Azure Great God. However, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] was anchored within the Innate Spiritual Treasure known as the Myriad Souls Banner, allowing him to narrowly escape that fatal calamity. Now, he has already Restoration [recovered and restored] a portion of his former power."

"Several million years ago, that fiend sent me a message, boasting that he wished to join forces with me to divide the Vast Azure Immortal Domain between us."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but let out a soft sigh. With two Eight Tribulation Ancient Demon joining forces and seizing the opportunity presented by the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth, they truly had a chance to claim an unclaimed Immortal Domain.

By now, he understood. The Vast Azure Immortal Domain was a place where dragons and tigers lay hidden [a metaphor for a place teeming with formidable, hidden talents]. The coming Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal] was likely to be a fierce and monumental struggle.

The reason was simple. After this Kalpa Tribulation, the Vast Azure Great God would most likely achieve complete resurrection during the next Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity.

Once that happened, there would be no further Hundred Tribulations Rebirth Opportunity.

Under such circumstances, all the demons and devils [a metaphor for various malevolent and hidden powers] lurking within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain could no longer remain concealed.

This was their final chance. Should they miss this one, neither the Ancient Ice Phoenix [a legendary avian demon beast of profound frost] nor the Myriad Ghosts Ancient Ancestor would ever again be able to seize the Opportunity [a pivotal moment of potential and change] offered by the Hundred Tribulations Rebirth [a legendary method of rebirth through enduring countless calamities] to reawaken, let alone use it to attempt a breakthrough into the Realm of the Great Luo Golden Immortal [the supreme pinnacle of immortal cultivation].

It was precisely for this reason that countless Immortal [beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation] across the Three Thousand Immortal Domains believed that within this current Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of cataclysmic upheaval and renewal], the Vast Azure Immortal Domain held the greatest potential to give birth to a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the supreme Great Luo realm].

"The Myriad Ghosts Ancient Ancestor, and the Xuanheng the Elder Demon," murmured Eldrin Chen, his gaze turning distant. "It seems this Kalpa Tribulation will prove even more troublesome than I anticipated."

The Ancient Ice Phoenix nodded, her expression serene. "True enough. Yet, the more formidable the tribulation, the greater the potential for a breakthrough it often represents."

"This Opportunity of Rebirth Through a Hundred Tribulations [the singular chance for rebirth offered by enduring a hundred calamities] may well be the closest you and I shall ever come to the Great Luo Realm."

Eldrin Chen acknowledged her words with a slight nod, offering no further comment.

He rose to his feet and stepped out from the Fallen Phoenix Ridge. As he departed, a calm voice lingered in the air: "Leave the Xuanheng the Elder Demon to me."

With those words, Eldrin Chen vanished from the Fallen Phoenix Ridge.

The Ancient Ice Phoenix watched his retreating figure, a thoughtful gleam in her eyes. "After mere tens of millions of years of cultivation, he is already confident enough to handle even the Xuanheng the Elder Demon?"

She murmured softly to herself, her voice carrying a trace of complex emotion. "The path of cultivation truly is unpredictable. Who could have foreseen that a junior who once needed my protection would grow to such heights in such a short span of time?"

After departing from Fallen Phoenix Ridge, Eldrin Chen traversed several more forbidden lands in succession.

These forbidden lands could not compare to the Myriad Crows Forbidden Land, yet they still held treasures of considerable astonishment. Within them, Eldrin Chen obtained a Great Luo Rare Treasure and a damaged Great Luo Divine Weapon.

That Great Luo Divine Weapon was named the Great Luo Sword Embryo, a divine weapon forged from Great Luo Immortal Gold. Such a weapon is also a type of Great Luo Divine Weapon, but because it lacked an Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a fundamental, unbreakable spiritual radiance], its power fell far short of the divine wonder of an Innate Spiritual Treasure.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, if a Six Tribulations Ancient Immortal could refine a complete Great Luo Divine Weapon, their combat prowess could be elevated to approximately the level of a Seven Tribulation Ancient Immortal.

Unfortunately, this Great Luo Sword Embryo was damaged and would require repair to unleash its full potential.

Returning to the main thread, Eldrin Chen, now satisfied with the acquisition of these two rare treasures, returned to the Abyssal Ruins Celestial Domain. It was only then that he realized his longevity celebration was drawing near.

For the Abyssal Ruins Celestial Domain, and indeed for the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain, the longevity celebration of Eldrin, the Abyssal Daoist was a momentous event.

Having cultivated the Dao for a mere ten million years, Eldrin, the Abyssal Daoist had already achieved the feat of suppressing a peak-level Celestial Immortal. Such a figure was regarded by the myriad immortals of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain as the foremost prodigy to emerge in dozens of Kalpa Tribulation cycles.

Even the Pure Yang Ancient Ancestor of yore, even the former master of the Soaring Roc Grotto-Heaven, at a comparable age, had never displayed brilliance as dazzling as that of Eldrin Chen.