Chapter 1916 : A Lord's Stagnant Path

After the Great Encompassing Immortal Banquet concluded, Eldrin Chen bid farewell to the various Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the third major stage of the Great Encompassing Realm, a pinnacle of immortal cultivation] and departed directly from the Returning Abyss Ancestral Court, heading towards the White Lotus Immortal Domain.

The White Lotus Immortal Domain was situated within the Chaos [the primordial, formless void from which all creation emerged] and had been established for over a thousand Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle in Buddhist cosmology, often billions of years].

Furthermore, White Lotus Immortal Lord had also attained the Dao for more than a thousand Kalpa Tribulation. However, due to insufficient foundational strength, his cultivation had remained stagnant at the third level of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal for many years, making it exceedingly difficult to break through to a higher realm.

As Eldrin Chen reviewed the information regarding White Lotus Immortal Lord, he largely understood why the Immortal Lord wished to exchange Silas Chen for the Great Path Immortal Pill [a legendary elixir said to grant profound insights into the Great Dao].

For an ordinary Great Encompassing Golden Immortal like White Lotus Immortal Lord, if he missed this opportunity, he might wait another thousand Kalpa Tribulation and still fail to advance to the mid-stage of Great Encompassing [the overarching realm encompassing the Golden Immortal stage].

"This is the place."

Just as these thoughts drifted through Eldrin Chen's mind, the two of them had already arrived at the periphery of the White Lotus Immortal Domain.

Gazing upon the White Lotus Immortal Domain before him, Eldrin Chen spoke with calm eyes, his voice steady. "Immortal Lord White Lotus, would you grace us with your presence?"

"*Hummm—*"

The words of a Peerless Immortal Lord [a title for an exceptionally powerful Immortal Lord] transformed into divine sound imbued with the Great Path [the fundamental laws of existence and cultivation], spreading out and echoing through the vast expanse of Chaos. The story continues at audio - novel . com.

The White Lotus Immortal Lord was roused from her contemplation. She stepped out from the White Lotus Immortal Domain, her gaze sweeping over Eldrin Chen with a flicker of surprise before settling on Silas Chen beside him.

In but a moment, the memory of Eldrin Chen's identity surfaced in her mind. She spoke, her voice measured, "So it is Fellow Cultivator Eldrin. To what do I owe the honor of your visit today?"

Eldrin Chen's expression remained placid as still water. His eyes briefly touched upon Silas Chen before he replied, his tone devoid of inflection, "In her past life, Silas was a member of my clan."

The White Lotus Immortal Lord felt a tremor in her heart. A shadow of gravity crossed her features as she understood the true purpose of Eldrin Chen's visit—it concerned the matter of Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord and Silas Chen.

Her thoughts churned swiftly. Forcing a smile, she gestured gracefully, "So you are Silas's elder. Please, come in."

"There is no need."

Eldrin Chen's reply was flat. He held no goodwill for the White Lotus Immortal Lord who had traded Silas Chen for a Great Path Immortal Pill [a legendary pill said to grant profound insights into the Great Dao], and he had no patience for hollow pleasantries.

He stood calmly, hands clasped behind his back, and declared, "I have no wish to discuss the affairs of the Crimson Mastiff."

"Since Silas has taken you as her master, I shall repay you tenfold for all the resources you have expended on her over the years. Let this matter be settled here and now."

"This..."

Upon hearing this, the White Lotus Immortal Lord [a powerful immortal sovereign] could not help but abruptly change her expression.

Silas Chen had only been her disciple for a few tens of millions of years; his current cultivation was merely at the Six Tribulations Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived six heavenly tribulations] realm. How many resources could he possibly have consumed?

Even if repaid tenfold, it would at most be worth one or two Great Encompassing Rare Treasures [extremely rare and powerful artifacts]. How could that compare to the Great Path Immortal Pill [a legendary pill that can greatly advance one's cultivation path] promised by the Crimson Mastiff Demon Lord [a formidable demon sovereign]?

Thinking this, the White Lotus Immortal Lord said with an unpleasant expression, "Your words go too far, Fellow Daoist. Even if Silas was your junior in a past life, in this life, it was I who nurtured him."

"Regardless, he is ultimately a member of my White Lotus Immortal Domain [an immortal realm]. He should remain within the White Lotus Immortal Domain."

"Remain within the White Lotus Immortal Domain?"

Eldrin Chen let out a cold laugh, his voice icy. "Remain there, only to be sold off as a concubine to the Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord [the immortal lord form of the Crimson Mastiff Demon Lord] in exchange for your own Opportunity and Fortune [a chance encounter or resource critical for a major breakthrough] to break through to the mid-stage of the Great Encompassing Realm [a supreme cultivation realm]?"

"Or perhaps you can help him break through to become an Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations], thereby proving his path to the Great Encompassing Realm?"

Upon hearing this, the White Lotus Immortal Lord finally found her composure slipping.

She was merely at the early stage of the Great Encompassing Realm and possessed no spare Innate Spiritual Treasures [treasures born from the primordial chaos, possessing immense power]. How could she possibly enable Silas Chen to break through to become an Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal?

Most crucially, the matter of selling a disciple to seek a pill, once laid bare for all to see, ultimately made her feel deeply ashamed. [This action is considered a profound betrayal of the master-disciple bond in cultivation society.]

Thinking of this, she silently sent a message to Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord and then said with an icy expression, "Regardless, the fact that Silas has reached her current state is ultimately due to my nurturing over tens of millions of years."

"Her Destiny [the predetermined course of her life and cultivation path], should rightfully be arranged by me."

Upon hearing this, Silas Chen nearby could not help but reveal a look of profound sorrow. She had thought her master was merely tempted by Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord's offer, yet still held some regard for their master-disciple bond.

She never imagined that the other party had long since resolved to sell her off. It was only because Silas Chen displayed astonishing talent, coupled with greed for the promise of repaying the Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a legendary spiritual light that grants innate indestructibility] after a breakthrough to the Great Encompassing realm, that had temporarily stayed her master's final decision.

"What a clever scheme you have devised." The story continues at audio~novel.com.

Eldrin Chen let out a cold laugh, his eyes glinting with frost. "The reason Silas possesses the potential of a Primordial One Imperial Lord lies in the arrangements I made in my previous life, paying a tremendous price to reforge her Primordial Simplicity Path Body [a legendary constitution embodying the primordial state of simplicity, granting immense cultivation advantages]."

"You, offering mere scraps of resources for her cultivation, now seek to trade her for a Great Path Immortal Pill [a supreme pill said to aid in comprehending the Great Dao itself]. This truly sullies the title of 'Master'—you are unworthy of being her teacher."

With those words, Eldrin Chen flicked his sleeve, producing several Great Encompassing Rare Treasure [extremely rare treasures from the Great Encompassing Realm] and tossing them over. "In consideration of the years you spent nurturing her, I shall not hold you accountable today."

"These treasures are worth ten times the resources you expended on her over all these years. Henceforth, your master-disciple bond is severed. Let this matter be settled, completely and finally."

With those words, Eldrin Chen saw no point in further discourse and prepared to withdraw.

Yet, in that very instant, a Crimson Flame Divine Spear thrust down from the Heavenly Vault, barring Eldrin Chen's path of retreat.

"Thinking of leaving? I'm afraid it won't be that simple."

Eldrin Chen lifted his gaze to find a majestic figure striding forth from the Depths of Chaos.

Clad in crimson battle robes that seemed woven from Flowing Fire, hair like dancing flames, the figure held the Crimson Flame Divine Spear aloft, blocking the way forward.

"Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord."

Eldrin Chen spoke with icy calm, a glint of frost appearing in his eyes.

Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord offered a thin smile, his gaze sharp with killing intent. "Primordial Simplicity [one of the legendary Innate Five Ultimates, the primordial source of all matter before the Chaos Opening]. One of the Innate Five Ultimates [the five fundamental primordial substances from which all reality is derived], the very source of all substance that predates the Chaos Opening [the primordial event marking the beginning of the cosmos]."

"Such a constitution holds boundless, infinite potential, possessing the latent capacity to prove the Chaos Heavenly Emperor [the supreme sovereign who rules over primordial chaos]."

"Should I obtain her, not only would my chances of breaking through to the late-stage Great Encompassing [a profound cultivation realm representing mastery over vast cosmic principles] be greatly enhanced, but I might even harbor hope of one day ascending to the Primordial One Imperial Lord Realm [the legendary realm of the singular, ultimate sovereign]."

Eldrin Chen's gaze turned icy cold in an instant as he recalled the origins of this Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord.

This Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord specialized in the Essence Absorption Path, having ascended to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm by mastering the Essence Plundering Art.

It was said the method he pioneered could use the Essence Plundering Art to plunder the foundations of female cultivators with Immortal Root [a supreme-grade spiritual root], an utterly vile and sinister technique.

In the past, the Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord had used this very Essence Plundering Art to prey upon over a hundred female Ancient Immortal [powerful immortal cultivators], even claiming two eight-tribulation female immortals among his victims. It was through such means that he had managed to step into the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm.

In principle, the Essence Absorption Path was far too sinister and vile, earning the disdain of all major powers. Such a person should have been exterminated long ago.

However, this man knew his limits. He had always dared to target only rogue cultivators, never laying a hand on female immortals with Great Encompassing [the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] backing. Furthermore, as a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, he was beyond the reach of Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth], which was how he had managed to survive until this day.

Silas Chen possessed the Primordial Simplicity Path Body [a legendary physique of supreme purity], her innate talent rivaling that of the most elite Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivation realm]. Yet her cultivation level was extremely low, and she lacked any truly formidable backing. Consequently, she was the most coveted cultivation furnace [a term for a victim used to steal cultivation essence] the Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord could ever dream of.

If Silas Chen were to fall into his hands, she would likely end up with her foundational cultivation utterly ruined.

Having understood the cause and effect of the situation, Eldrin Chen shielded Silas Chen with his Great Encompassing [Great Encompassing Golden Immortal] power. He then turned his gaze to the White Lotus Immortal Lord and declared, "As a female immortal, to collude with the Crimson Mastiff is truly contemptible."

"Since you secretly sent a message, I presume you have also made your preparations."

Having spoken thus, Eldrin Chen drew forth the Crimson Flame Firefly [a legendary sword imbued with the essence of a crimson firefly's spirit], pointed it at White Lotus Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal cultivator], and declared, "Come forth together and meet your end."

"Arrogant fool."

White Lotus Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal cultivator], both shocked and enraged, spoke with a gaze as cold as ice, "Do not think that because you have defeated a few newly ascended Great Encompassing [the Great Encompassing Realm, a high stage of cultivation], you can suppress everyone."

"You must understand that even within the early stage of the Great Encompassing [the Great Encompassing Realm, a high stage of cultivation], there are still vast differences in power."

As his words fell, White Lotus Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal cultivator] instantly made his move. He summoned a Peerless Immortal Sword [a sword of unparalleled sharpness and power forged by immortals] that cleaved through the heavens as it descended upon his foe.

With a mere flick of his sleeve, Eldrin Chen blocked the strike with a single finger. Yet, in that instant, his brow furrowed slightly. He immediately understood that White Lotus Immortal Lord's [a title for a powerful immortal cultivator] words held truth.

With the combat prowess of a third-level Great Encompassing [the Great Encompassing Realm, a high stage of cultivation], White Lotus Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal cultivator] could likely contend against two newly ascended Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a Golden Immortal within the Great Encompassing Realm] at once.

Even so, this posed no significant threat to Eldrin Chen.

In but a moment, the Crimson Flame Firefly [a legendary sword imbued with the essence of a crimson firefly's spirit] in his hand sliced through the firmament, sending White Lotus Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal cultivator] hurtling through countless Path [a fundamental concept representing a cultivator's chosen way or method of cultivation].

"Your opponent is me."

Simultaneously, Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord made his move. The Crimson Flame Divine Spear in his hand, wreathed in a deluge of Flowing Fire [a legendary sea of ever-burning flames], arced around to suppress Eldrin Chen from the flank.

This Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord had cultivated to the Fifth Heaven of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal. The Crimson Flame Heavenly Flame Great Path [a supreme art of celestial conflagration] he practiced possessed a heaven-scorching power that even caused Eldrin Chen to feel a sliver of pressure.

Yet this alone was insufficient to bring any significant threat to Eldrin Chen.

With a flick of his wrist, Eldrin Chen summoned the Crimson Flame Firefly to meet the assault head-on. Each strike was infused with the raw power of his physical body, forcefully quelling the Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord's aggressive momentum.

However, to prevent revealing his full strength and potentially frightening off the Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord, Eldrin Chen deliberately held back. He matched their combined force, presenting a facade of being evenly matched.

Thus, the battle raged back and forth. After thousands of exchanges, both the Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord and the White Lotus Immortal Lord began to show signs of anxiety.

The power Eldrin Chen displayed was truly astonishing. For one who had just entered the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm to hold his own against two opponents was a feat that would be recorded as legendary, even forbidden, in the annals of history.

At this moment, the Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord himself felt the urge to retreat. Were it not for the fact that Silas Chen was the key to his own potential ascension to the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm, he would never have chosen to make an enemy of Eldrin Chen.

"No," he thought, his resolve hardening. "We have already crossed blades. To retreat now is too late."

Sensing the White Lotus Immortal Lord's own wavering resolve, the Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord steeled his heart and declared, "Fellow Daoist, if we fail to eliminate him now, once he breaks through to Primordial One Imperial Lord, he will surely not spare us."

"Only by forcing it into dormancy, allowing this venerable one to obtain your rebellious disciple and achieve a breakthrough in cultivation, can both you and I be preserved."

White Lotus Immortal Lord's heart tightened, and his expression grew increasingly somber.

Realizing that enmity was now inevitable and there was no path of retreat, White Lotus Immortal Lord dared hold nothing back any longer. In an instant, he unleashed his most desperate technique, activating a Forbidden Divine Ability [a supreme, self-damaging technique that grants immense power at a great cost].

Upon activating the Forbidden Divine Ability, White Lotus Immortal Lord's power surged instantly to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage. With a resonant *clang*, he then summoned his Immortal Sword [a sword forged with immortal power] and slashed with all his might towards Eldrin Chen.

"Perish!"

Almost in the same breath, Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord also Burst [unleashed his ultimate power]. He instantly invoked his own Forbidden Divine Ability, elevating his combat prowess to the level of a Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal. Then, brandishing his Crimson Flame Divine Spear, he brought it crashing down.

Both opponents employing their Forbidden Divine Ability simultaneously was a clear sign of their desperation—they were willing to pay any price to slay Eldrin Chen and force him into dormancy.

"Hmph—"

Watching the two go berserk, Eldrin Chen merely responded with a cold sneer.

With a flick of his sleeve, the Returning Abyss Seal [a powerful seal artifact] within him instantly transformed into the Polarity Void Mirror [a mirror capable of manipulating space]. In that same moment, it tore through the void, carrying him away as he vanished from his original position.

"No—"

Their full-force strikes had met only empty air. In that instant, both were filled with utter disbelief.

After activating their Forbidden Divine Ability [a supreme, world-shaking technique that often carries severe consequences], their power had reached truly heaven-shaking levels. This was especially true for Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord; with his combat prowess at the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a very high level of immortal cultivation] realm, his spatial sealing [the act of locking down a region of space] should have required at least a mid-grade or higher Spatial Attribute [a rare innate affinity for manipulating space] Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the world's primal energies, possessing incredible power] to break through and vanish.

How could they have imagined that Eldrin Chen would be capable of simply slipping from their grasp?

"Disaster! He actually possesses a Mid-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [a powerful, naturally-formed artifact of middling rank] with Spatial Attribute [spatial manipulation properties]!"

White Lotus Immortal Lord sought to flee for his life, but in that same instant, a streak of sword light pierced through him, cleaving his body in two at the waist.

"Agh!"

Severely wounded by the Limitless Cosmos Sword [a sword technique of boundless, cosmos-sundering power], White Lotus Immortal Lord let out a wretched scream. His Primordial Spirit [the immortal core of his being, housing his consciousness and power] instantly abandoned his Great Encompassing Physique [his powerful immortal body] and fled into the depths of his White Lotus Immortal Domain [his personal pocket dimension or immortal realm] to preserve his life.

At the same time, Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord chose to endure a direct hit from the Chaos Divine Thunder [a thunderous divine ability born from primordial chaos], paying the price of a grievous injury to vanish into the depths of the Chaos Void [the formless, primordial expanse between worlds].

"They flee with remarkable swiftness."

Watching the Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord depart, a cold glint flickered in Eldrin Chen's eyes.

Had that Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord been a few steps slower, he likely would have had to leave half his life behind to escape.

However, as both had unleashed their Forbidden Divine Abilities [ultimate, self-damaging divine techniques], they would be unable to recover their full strength for at least several Kalpa Tribulations [immense cosmic cycles].

This was especially true for the White Lotus Immortal Lord, whose physical body had been destroyed by Eldrin Chen. With only his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] having fled into the Immortal Domain [a cultivator's personal realm], reforging his Great Encompassing Physique [a supreme physical constitution] would require at least thirty Kalpa Tribulations and a vast expenditure of precious resources.

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen approached the White Lotus Immortal Domain. Gazing upon the domain before him, he ultimately abandoned any thought of a direct assault.

Storming an Immortal Domain was no simple feat. Unless Eldrin Chen were to unleash his Forbidden Divine Abilities once more, it was unlikely he could breach the defenses of this White Lotus Immortal Domain.

Yet, doing so would reveal the full extent of his power.

"*Cough*—"

At that very moment, Eldrin Chen's face suddenly paled. His aura plummeted sharply, falling to the level of the third tier of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a high-level immortal realm].

"Uncle Eldrin, what's wrong..."

"It's nothing," Eldrin Chen said, supporting Silas Chen before continuing with a pale face, "This is the backlash from using a Forbidden Divine Ability [a supreme technique that grants immense power at a severe cost to the user]. Let us return first."

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen took Silas Chen and instantly tore through the Chaos [the primordial, formless void between realms], vanishing into the depths of the void.

Only after he had departed did several figures, who had been concealed in the shadows, reveal themselves. These were the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [cultivators who have attained the Golden Immortal realm and begun to comprehend the laws of the Great Encompassing Dao] from several nearby Immortal Domain [a vast territory governed by immortal powers].

They surveyed the battlefield. One of them spoke, "So he used a Forbidden Divine Ability. No wonder his power was so formidable."

Another nodded in agreement, his voice filled with admiration. "After unleashing that Forbidden Divine Ability, the Returning Abyss Path Master [Eldrin Chen's Daoist title] possessed strength rivaling the seventh level of the Great Encompassing [a profound stage of Golden Immortal cultivation]. Combined with his Primordial One Grade [the highest foundational grade] mastery of spatial Sword Path [the Dao of the Sword] Divine Ability [supernatural powers derived from profound cultivation], it's little wonder he escaped what should have been a certain death blow from those two."

"With such prowess, he must rank among the elite even within the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm], wouldn't you say?"

"Truly Extraordinary [Chen Bufan's name, meaning 'extraordinary']. A pity that the more powerful the Forbidden Divine Ability, the greater the backlash. Judging by this, after using such a technique, the Returning Abyss Path Master will likely need at least ten Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration, often billions of years] to Recovery [recover] his combat strength."

As the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal conversed, one of them glanced towards the White Lotus Immortal Domain [an immortal territory] and sneered derisively. "That White Lotus Old Mother [a Daoist title] has truly lost her mind. To think she would betray her disciple for favor and glory. She deserves this calamity."

"Hahaha, you cannot blame her entirely. After all, she has cultivated for over a thousand Kalpa Tribulation without achieving a breakthrough."

"..."

As the others conversed, Eldrin Chen had already returned to the Returning Abyss Ancestral Court.

Upon his return to the Returning Abyss Ancestral Court, Eldrin Chen's expression settled into a profound calm, a sight that gave Silas Chen a moment's pause.

"Do not worry. Dealing with a few worthless wretches did not require me to unleash any Forbidden Divine Ability."

So saying, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to Silas Chen and spoke, "That White Lotus Old Mother [a title for a powerful female cultivator] is no benevolent entity. I fear she may have planted some hidden mechanism upon you. Open your spiritual senses and allow me to inspect you."

Silas Chen complied without hesitation, and Eldrin Chen immediately extended his divine sense to probe.

As expected, Eldrin Chen soon discovered several hidden spiritual imprints within Silas Chen's body. Even beyond the Innate Primordial Simplicity Scripture [a supreme cultivation manual] residing in his sea of consciousness, there seemed to be a subtle strand of Great Path [the fundamental laws of cultivation] divine will lurking.

Fortunately, the Innate Primordial Simplicity Scripture lived up to its reputation as a peerless treasure, possessing the wondrous ability to conceal Celestial Mechanism [the workings of heavenly fate and destiny]. Not even the White Lotus Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal] could decipher its presence or peer into its secrets.

Of course, this was also because the White Lotus Immortal Lord's power was insufficient. Had she possessed the strength of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the peak stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm], she likely would have been able to detect traces of the Innate Primordial Simplicity Scripture within Silas Chen's body.

Had Silas Chen remained in the clutches of the Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal], once that fiend's cultivation broke through to Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection, he would have undoubtedly employed some vile method to seize the Innate Primordial Simplicity Scripture in the end.

At this thought, a cold glint flashed in Eldrin Chen's eyes. He used the Chaos Limitless Great Path [a divine ability of boundless chaos] to erase every last trace of the White Lotus Immortal Lord's machinations. Finally, his voice turned icy as he declared, "That White Lotus Holy Mother [another title for the White Lotus Immortal Lord], and that Crimson Mastiff Immortal Lord... they truly deserve death."

Silas Chen's face also paled slightly. She possessed peerless Heavy Treasures [exceptionally powerful enchanted artifacts]. If White Lotus Holy Mother [a title for a powerful female cultivator] or Crimson Mastiff Demon Lord [a title for a powerful demonic cultivator] discovered her treasures, she feared she would meet a fate worse than death.

Thinking of this, she took a deep breath, looked at Eldrin Chen, and ultimately fell into a heavy, wordless silence.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath himself. Without saying much more, he examined her condition once more before speaking. "Your foundation is not yet solid. This Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic cycle marking the end of an era] is not your opportunity to prove your path."

"You will need to mend and rebuild your foundation over the course of another Kalpa Tribulation. At the very least, you must cultivate a flawless, perfect foundation before you can attempt a breakthrough."

The Innate Primordial Simplicity Scripture [a supreme cultivation manual focusing on innate purity and simplicity] practiced by Silas Chen was different from the Scripture of Innate Primordial Breath [a supreme cultivation manual focusing on the fusion of innate energies] practiced by Imperial Sovereign Jiang.

Imperial Sovereign Jiang's Scripture of Innate Primordial Breath could fuse various types of Innate Energy [the pure, fundamental energy one is born with], ultimately capable of merging them into the supreme Innate Primordial Breath [the primordial, undifferentiated energy of creation]. It emphasized resources over the solidity of one's cultivation base.

In contrast, Silas Chen's Innate Primordial Simplicity Scripture emphasized innate talent and the solidity of one's foundation. Theoretically, with sufficient cultivation resources, the potential of the Innate Primordial Simplicity Scripture was terrifyingly immense.

For Silas Chen to cultivate a True Spirit Foundation [a supreme and flawless cultivation foundation], the difficulty was far less than it would be for Imperial Sovereign Jiang. This was because it was fundamentally the same caliber of innate talent and latent potential as that possessed by Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign and Primordial Genesis Path Ancestor [titles for supreme ancient beings]. The only difference was that Silas Chen lacked Chaos Genesis Energy [the chaotic, primordial energy from which all things were born].

With Silas Chen's innate talent, as long as resources were plentiful, cultivating an Indestructibility Foundation [an unshakable and eternal cultivation foundation] would present no bottleneck.

Yet now, she had only cultivated a single aspect of the Primordial Simplicity Great Path [the Great Path of Primordial Simplicity] into her Indestructibility Foundation. This clearly showed that over the years, White Lotus Holy Mother had not provided her with truly precious cultivation resources.

Silas Chen gazed at him, lost in thought for a long moment before finally snapping back to reality. Lowering her gaze, she said softly, "I will listen to you, Silas."

"Oh, you foolish child."

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh. He naturally understood Silas Chen's thoughts, but could only shake his head. "There are merely ten million years left until the Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic cycle]. This upcoming Kalpa Tribulation coincides with the time for Exquisite to prove her Path [to achieve a fundamental breakthrough in her cultivation]. Use this time to cultivate diligently. When the time comes, you shall accompany her to gain experience."

"..."

After having the clan members handle the matters of the longevity banquet, Eldrin Chen returned to the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain.

In the years that followed, Eldrin Chen continued his cultivation step by step, devoting the majority of his efforts to the cultivation of his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator]. He wished to see if he could advance the Great Encompassing Primordial Spirit to its second layer before the arrival of the Kalpa Tribulation.

During his spare time from Primordial Spirit cultivation, Eldrin Chen also began preparing the clan members who were destined to enter this Kalpa Tribulation.

For this coming Kalpa Tribulation, three members of the Chen Immortal Clan were poised to assault the Great Encompassing Realm [a supreme immortal realm]. They were Exquisite Jiang, Nyssa Qu, and Gentle Deer.

The foundations of these three had already been perfected to their limits. Further cultivation would yield little additional gain. As long as they obtained sufficient Opportunity and Fortune [a combination of chance encounters and karmic luck] during this Kalpa Tribulation, they would directly break through to the realm of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

Aside from these three, the Chen Immortal Clan possessed ten other combatants with the strength of Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortals. However, as their cultivation had not yet reached perfection, Eldrin Chen decided they should continue to accumulate power for a while longer.

Among these three, Exquisite Jiang's preparations were already sufficient. As long as she obtained a Path Source [a primordial source of power for advancing one's cultivation path] of sufficient quality, she could save a great deal of time and her breakthrough would follow as naturally as water flowing in its course.

The Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial energy from the dawn of creation] that Nyssa Qu had integrated had been gradually digested over the past ages. She had already cultivated the four great True Spirit Foundation [the foundational pillars of a True Spirit cultivator's power]: the True Spirit Physique [a body tempered to the pinnacle of spiritual purity], the True Spirit Great Path [the supreme cultivation art of the True Spirit realm], the True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a divine ability manifesting the core of one's spiritual essence], and the True Spirit Divine Ability [a supreme technique unique to the True Spirit realm].

Only her Path Fruit [the condensed essence and achievement of one's cultivation path] and spiritual power [the refined energy cultivated by immortals] remained difficult to perfect. Furthermore, she had not yet broken through the Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Pass [a legendary bottleneck requiring the forging of a supreme spiritual treasure] that represented the Eleventh Limit [the mythical eleventh and ultimate limit of a cultivation stage].

To help Nyssa Qu shatter this supreme Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Pass, the Immortal Clam Clan [a powerful clan of immortal clam spirits] sent seven pieces of Innate Heavenly God Metal [a divine metal born from the heavens, possessing innate properties]. By fusing these with the Seven-Colored Immortal Pearl [a miraculous pearl radiating seven colors of immortal light], she forged her life-bound Innate Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure born with the cultivator, sharing their fate]: the 'Seven Extremities Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation' [a lethal sword formation capable of slaying even immortals].

As for Gentle Deer, after integrating the Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Divine Spark [a divine spark embodying the indestructible nature of primordial chaos], she had already cultivated one of the True Spirit Foundation. Moreover, she had shattered the shackles binding her potential. She now only needed to continuously refine Path Source and various other resources to solidify her foundation. Her future potential was likewise boundless.

After arranging matters for these three, Eldrin Chen gave Exquisite Jiang's Mysterious Heaven Mirror [a magical mirror with the power to reflect the mysteries of heaven] to Lila. He also forged a set of Innate Primordial Unity Golden Bamboo Sword Formation [a sword formation born from the unity of primordial golden bamboo] for each person who had entered the tribulation. Only then did he begin to settle all remaining affairs.

Thus time flowed swiftly by. In the blink of an eye, ten million years passed, and the day of the Path Tribulation [the cataclysmic tribulation that tests a cultivator's path] Burst [the explosive beginning of the tribulation] drew near.

Seeing the Kalpa Tribulation [the great cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth] was about to commence, Eldrin Chen directly summoned the Southern Chaos Heavenly Domain [a heavenly realm born from the southern chaos] and then sealed the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain [an immortal domain named for its connection to the abyss]. He settled in to observe the shifting winds and clouds of the Kalpa Tribulation.

"The Kalpa Tribulation has begun. I, your lord, am here, awaiting the day you prove your path and attain Great Encompassing [the ultimate realm that encompasses all existence]."

"My husband, on the day we meet again, I shall stand shoulder to shoulder with you, gazing down upon eternity."

From amidst the crowd, Exquisite Jiang [the Immortal Lord of peerless grace and profound cultivation] spoke with a calm, resonant voice. Then, she led the assembly as they stepped across the threshold and into the Southern Chaos Heavenly Domain [a primordial and turbulent region of the cosmos].

This Southern Chaos Heavenly Domain was to be the first true trial for the denizens of the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain [Eldrin Chen's celestial dominion] as they entered the great cosmic tribulation. For this purpose, Eldrin Chen [the sovereign of the Returning Abyss] had deliberately captured vast hordes of Chaos Beast King [monarchs among the primordial chaos-spawned beasts], among which were not a few supreme Chaos Beast King that had reached the pinnacle of the Seven Tribulations [a stage representing immense power and survival through seven great cosmic trials] within the Ancient Immortal Realm [a venerable and mighty stage of immortal cultivation].

Yet even so, for the assembled forces of the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain, this conflict was little more than a war of utter and complete domination, sweeping all before them.

Exquisite Jiang, Nyssa Qu [the Immortal Maiden of peerless beauty and formidable power], and others of their stature took to the field personally. They slaughtered the majority of the supreme Chaos Beast King, leaving only a handful for the younger clan members to hone their skills against. Afterwards, they entered secluded cultivation to refine the captured Path Source [the condensed essence of a being's cultivation path and life force].

Compared to the Path Source of an Ancient Immortal [a cultivator who has weathered the trials of immense ages], that of a Chaos Ancient Beast [an ancient beast born of primordial chaos] was far more savage and untamed. It was particularly suited for tempering the physical body, offering unique benefits distinct from its immortal counterpart.

After cultivating in seclusion within the Southern Chaos Heavenly Domain for several millennia, Exquisite Jiang and her companions emerged. Without pause, they led their forces deep into the heart of the Eastern Departure Flame Domain [a celestial domain ablaze with eternal, departing flames], where they Burst [unleashed with explosive, cataclysmic force] into a world-shaking battle against the Chaos Beast King that ruled that fiery expanse.

Thirteen supreme experts joined the fray: Exquisite Jiang, Nyssa Qu, Gentle Deer [a being of serene power and grace], Lila [the young mistress with formidable latent power], Violet Consort Yan [a noble consort of profound cultivation], Worthy Verdancy Chen [a scion of the Chen Clan], Worthy Longevity Chen [another esteemed scion of the Chen Clan], Kael Chen [a senior member of the Chen Clan], Energy Abyss Chen [a patriarch of profound and abyssal energy], Ethan Chen [a night-prowling expert of the Chen Clan], Primordial Era Ice Phoenix [an ancient phoenix of primordial frost], Ao Hong [the Primordial Chaos Black Dragon], and Sunder Heaven Heavenly Demon Emperor [a demonic emperor of heaven-rending power]. Together, they faced the collective might of dozens of Chaos Saint Spirit [saintly spirits born from the essence of chaos] that called the Eastern Departure Flame Domain home.

The great war raged for tens of thousands of years. In the end, the seventeen Eight Tribulations [beings who had survived eight great cosmic trials] Chaos Saint Spirit and over thirty Seven Tribulations Chaos Saint Spirit of the Eastern Departure Flame Domain were utterly annihilated.

Within the entire Eastern Departure Flame Domain, the rising stars of the Chaos Demon God [a race of deities born from primordial chaos] clan, nurtured over several Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles], were completely eradicated.

After refining these Path Source, Nyssa Qu, Gentle Deer, Worthy Longevity Chen, and the others all experienced a significant increase in their strength.

Thereafter, the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent opened, and they diverted their path to head there. Upon the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent, they swept through the gathered heroes, slaying over forty Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortals from the Demonic and Divine Clans.

Finally, they encountered the revived Golden Crow Crown Prince, 'Soaring Sky'.

After his revival, Soaring Sky Imperial Scion had cultivated the True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the ultimate spiritual core of a True Spirit]. With the aid of both the True Spirit Primordial Spirit and his True Spirit Physique [the supreme physical form of a True Spirit], and further empowered by the Ten Suns Scorching Heaven Formation Diagram [a legendary formation harnessing the power of ten suns] at the Eleventh Limit [the pinnacle of the Ancient Immortal realm], his combat prowess had already reached a level comparable to the three great True Spirit Foundations [the foundational cultivation arts of the True Spirit realm].

Confident beyond measure, he swept across the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent, slaying over ten Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortals before finally locating the traces of Exquisite Jiang and her companions.

"Found you."

Gazing at Exquisite Jiang and the others, Soaring Sky Imperial Scion spoke with icy detachment, "In our battle back then, this sovereign was defeated by the hand of Returning Abyss Path Master."

"Now, this sovereign has cultivated the True Spirit Primordial Spirit, and no longer fears Returning Abyss Path Master. Yet, it is a regret that he has already proven his Great Encompassing [the Great Encompassing realm, the ultimate stage of cultivation] and cannot continue a fair fight within this Kalpa Tribulation [the cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth]."

"Today, I shall kill you first, as a mere down payment on the debt."

"Is that so?"

Exquisite Jiang let out a cold laugh, her voice dripping with disdain. "The moment you were defeated by my husband, you lost all qualification to be his opponent."

"This very day, this venerable one shall send you to your final rest!"

"Arrogant fool!"

Soaring Sky Imperial Scion flew into a frenzy. The Ten Suns Scorching Heaven Scroll in his hand blazed across the heavens as he sought to engage Exquisite Jiang in a world-shaking battle to the death.

Alas, the chasm between a dual True Spirit Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage formed from two true spiritual essences] and a quintuple True Spirit Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage formed from five true spiritual essences] was simply too vast to bridge. Even the power of the Ten Suns Scorching Heaven Scroll was insufficient to close the gap.

Their fierce clash lasted less than one hundred exchanges. Then, with a mere flick of her sleeve, Exquisite Jiang cleaved him asunder amidst the void.

"Five True Spirit Foundations!"

In his final moments, Soaring Sky Imperial Scion was filled with utter despair.

He had achieved a dual True Spirit Foundation, a peerless genius appearing perhaps once in a thousand Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles]. To be defeated by Eldrin Chen was already beyond belief. He never imagined he would encounter another—Exquisite Jiang with her quintuple True Spirit Foundation.

This soul-crushing sense of defeat nearly caused his Dao Heart [the cultivator's core of will and spiritual resolve] to shatter completely.

"No! I am Soaring Sky, like a blazing sun reigning over the Nine Heavens! How could I be broken by this?!"

"One day, this venerable one shall surpass you all, and on the path to Heavenly Emperor [the supreme title for a ruler of a heavenly domain], we shall meet again to determine who is superior."

Soaring Sky had still fallen, plummeting into the depths of the Nirvana Ancient Land [an ancient, mysterious realm associated with rebirth and transformation], leaving behind yet another Path Source [a primordial seed containing the essence of a Great Dao path].

Exquisite Jiang watched Soaring Sky's physical form descend into the ancient land. After performing a brief divination with her fingers, she remarked, "Nirvana Rebirth [a supreme divine ability to perish in flames and be reborn from the ashes with renewed strength]. That Solar Heavenly Emperor [the Heavenly Emperor associated with the supreme yang and solar principles] is truly a cunning strategist."

Nyssa Qu showed a trace of surprise and could not help but ask curiously, "Since Soaring Sky perished here, could it possibly undergo Nirvana [a state of cessation and transformation leading to rebirth] once more and emerge with an even more formidable foundation?"

"This place holds contingency measures left behind by the Solar Heavenly Emperor. Within them lie vast quantities of peerless Rare Spiritual Wonders [extraordinarily precious materials imbued with profound spiritual power], and there may even be genuine supreme treasures and methods."

"Using this as a foundation, it is highly likely He will cultivate the Three True Spirit Foundations [a legendary cultivation method that establishes three separate, supremely powerful spiritual foundations]."

Exquisite Jiang explained in detail. After a long while, she shook her head, a hint of pity in her voice as she said, "What a pity. One Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense destruction and renewal] from now, Verdant Consort should also attain the Great Encompassing [the Da Luo realm, representing omnipresence and encompassing all phenomena]."

"By then..."

The others were momentarily taken aback, not fully grasping the meaning behind Exquisite Jiang's words. Yet, recalling that Verdant Consort had been in secluded cultivation for tens of millions of years, they vaguely began to form a suspicion.

Exquisite Jiang merely smiled, choosing not to reveal the true depth of Verdant Consort's reserves. But she understood perfectly well just how formidable Verdant Consort truly was.

The Verdant Consort is a true Chaos Foundation, born from the First Chaos Verdant Lotus and possessing the accompanying Chaos Spiritual Artifact known as the 'Scripture of the Primordial Chaos Verdant Lotus'. This foundation is, at the very least, that of the Second Chaos Realm.

Once she manifests into the world, she will be a being comparable to the Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign, a peer to the Solar Heavenly Emperor [the supreme sovereign of the solar domain].

Not to mention the Soaring Sky Imperial Scion, even the Solar Heavenly Emperor at this same stage of cultivation might not be able to defeat the Verdant Consort in her perfected state.

"A Path Source [a primordial source of a cultivation path's power] containing the Three True Spirit Foundations might very well allow the Verdant Consort to deepen her foundation even further."

As Exquisite Jiang pondered this, she could not help but glance towards the Nirvana Ancient Land where the Soaring Sky Imperial Scion had fallen.

Clearly, this Nirvana Ancient Land must contain a contingency left by the Solar Heavenly Emperor, infused with vast quantities of precious Rare Spiritual Wonders [extraordinary spiritual materials]. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for the Soaring Sky Imperial Scion to revive within a single Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration], let alone cultivate his third True Spirit Foundation.

Unfortunately, barring unforeseen events, all of this was destined to become the nourishment for the Verdant Consort's rise.

"Let us depart."

Finally, Exquisite Jiang gathered her thoughts.

Exquisite Jiang led her companions away from the Nirvana Ancient Land and resumed their campaign against the ten great Forbidden Land [places of extreme danger and profound secrets] of the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent.

The current Exquisite Jiang [the Immortal Maiden Jiang] possesses strength surpassing that of Eldrin Chen [the Sword Immortal Chen] during his time in the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent [a vast, ancient land filled with ruins and secrets]. With her leading the assault on the Forbidden Land [a perilous, restricted zone of immense power] within the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent, she could even conquer the former Three Forbidden Lands [the three most dangerous and legendary restricted zones], a feat Eldrin Chen himself had not been confident of achieving at the time.

After a prolonged war spanning tens of thousands of years, Exquisite Jiang successively captured two of the ten great Forbidden Land within the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent.

These two Forbidden Land were the Law-Refining Forbidden Land [a forbidden zone that aids in refining one's comprehension of the fundamental laws of cultivation] and the Path Fruit Forbidden Land [a forbidden zone that assists in cultivating one's Path Fruit, the core manifestation of a cultivator's Dao]. Both had remained sealed for at least several thousand Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of immense duration], accumulating boundless Opportunity and Fortune [chance encounters and metaphysical luck] and profound foundational resources [the deep reserves of heritage, power, and potential that form the bedrock of a cultivator's strength].

The Law-Refining Forbidden Land, which aids cultivators in tempering their True Spirit Dharmic Power [the pure, foundational spiritual power of a True Spirit cultivator], ranked third among the ten great Forbidden Land. After conquering it, Exquisite Jiang, leveraging her own profound foundation [the solidity and depth of one's cultivation base], succeeded in cultivating her True Spirit Dharmic Power in one decisive effort.

The Path Fruit Forbidden Land assists in the cultivation of the True Spirit Path Fruit [the crystallized fruit of one's Dao path at the True Spirit realm]. Within this treasured land, Exquisite Jiang successfully forged her own True Spirit Path Fruit.

Thus, Exquisite Jiang ultimately cultivated all seven True Spirit Foundation [the foundational pillars of power at the True Spirit realm], accomplishing this even without utilizing the Path Source [a source of primordial Dao power] that belonged to the Soaring Sky Imperial Scion [an Imperial Scion of the Soaring Sky lineage].

Although Exquisite Jiang relied on external aids for both breakthroughs, achieving them through a combination of internal cultivation and external resources—a method not quite matching Eldrin Chen's feat of breaking through solely by his own power—her accomplishments still marked her as a prodigy of earth-shaking, world-startling caliber.

Regardless, cultivating all seven True Spirit Foundation before reaching the Great Encompassing [a profound realm of cultivation] is a feat as difficult as scaling the heavens themselves.

Throughout the entire Southern Abyss Seven Domains [the seven domains of the Southern Abyss] and the seven domains of the Northern Abyss [the Northern Abyss region], only the Outer Realm Demon Emperor [a Demon Emperor from beyond this realm] had ever accomplished such a thing in the past.

As for all others, even figures like the Primordial Genesis Path Ancestor [the Ancestor who walked the Path of Primordial Genesis] and the Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign [the Divine Sovereign of the Primordial Beginning] had not forged such a profoundly foundational Path Fruit [the fruit of one's cultivated Dao] at this realm.

Even with such a profound foundation as it stands today, it was only after stepping into the Primordial One Imperial Lord Realm [the realm of a supreme ruler who commands the primordial unity of all things], or perhaps after breaking through to become a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a Heavenly Emperor who has mastered the primordial chaos at the dawn of creation], that such foundational depth was achieved—and at a cost countless times greater to compensate for what was once lacking.

Beyond Exquisite Jiang, the others also reaped immense gains from this Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth that tests all beings].

Leveraging the two treasured lands and the Path Source [the primordial source of a cultivator's chosen Dao Path] provided by Soaring Sky Imperial Scion, Nyssa Qu has also successfully cultivated her fifth True Spirit Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage that forges one's spiritual essence into a form of pure, unadulterated power]—attaining the True Spirit Dharmic Power [a state where one's spiritual power is perfectly aligned with the fundamental laws of the cosmos].

Gentle Deer cultivated her second True Spirit Foundation, while the strength of all the others surged forward by leaps and bounds, each having cultivated at least two or three Indestructibility Foundation [foundational cultivation stages focused on achieving an unbreakable body and spirit].

With such a formidable foundation now solidified, they did not remain in the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent [an ancient land filled with the remnants of a bygone immortal civilization]. Instead, they set out once more, their destination fixed upon the distant Chaos Heaven Abyss [a legendary chasm where the primordial chaos of heaven and the depths of the abyss converge]. Find this and other novels at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.