Chapter 1930 : A Legacy Forged in Cosmic Vows

"That you were able to obtain this legacy is also your Creation [the fundamental act of bringing something into being, a profound concept of fate and opportunity]."

Verdant Consort spoke slowly, then shook her head and said, "This legacy also carries Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect, where actions have inevitable consequences]. I foresee that it will likely require Karma repayment in the future. I must inform my husband upon returning."

Upon hearing this, Violet Consort Yan nodded. She had received the legacy of the Immortal Flame Heavenly Emperor and obtained the precious contingency measures he left behind, effectively making her this Heavenly Emperor's [a supreme ruler of a heavenly domain] direct disciple.

Yet, the former Immortal Flame Heavenly Emperor had already fallen. If he were to one day awaken and return, she could not possibly stand idly by.

The price for her obtaining this Opportunity and Fortune [a rare chance bestowed by fate, often carrying great potential and responsibility]—the legacy of the Immortal Flame Heavenly Emperor—was a promise: should the Immortal Flame Heavenly Emperor ever stir back to life, she must lend her strength to the effort, provided she possessed sufficient capability.

In truth, what she did not know was that the Chaos Divine Sovereign Heavenly Emperors [supreme beings who have transcended the limits of the known realms, rulers of primordial chaos] of the Three Thousand Immortal Domains had once sought to claim this legacy. Yet, upon hearing this condition, they all withdrew.

In the eyes of the Path Ancestor Immortal Sages [the ultimate pioneers who have founded their own cosmic paths and achieved sagehood], while the legacy of the Immortal Flame Heavenly Emperor was valuable, it was not worth such an immense price.

After all, the resurgence of a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [an emperor who rules over a domain of primordial chaos] would inevitably trigger earth-shattering turmoil. Even if the ineffable existence who struck the original blow chose to remain aloof, it would certainly provoke a great melee among multiple Chaos Heavenly Emperors.

For no one wished for the return of another powerful Chaos Heavenly Emperor to the territories surrounding their own.

It was foreseeable that becoming entangled in such an affair would exact a significant toll, even from a Chaos Heavenly Emperor.

"It seems that while Opportunity and Fortune [a favorable turn of fate or a chance for great gain] are desirable, repaying the Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect, where actions incur spiritual debts] incurred may not be easy."

Violet Consort Yan let out a soft sigh and shook her head slightly.

She harbored no regrets about accepting the Karma tied to this legacy. After all, this was likely her only chance to alter her Destiny [the predetermined course of one's life and cultivation path] and achieve the Three True Spirit Foundations [a legendary and supremely stable foundation for cultivation, formed by harmonizing three distinct spiritual cores].

Verdant Consort nodded in agreement, then turned her gaze to Lila and said, "Since this particular Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent [a vast, primordial landmass floating in the void, containing remnants of a fallen immortal civilization] holds such a legacy, it stands to reason that the other six Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent likely harbor similar Opportunity and Fortune?"

"From what I know, the Immortal Firmament Ancient Continent within the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods [a primordial realm said to be the birthplace of countless deities] was once the Path-Field [the personal domain and place of enlightenment for a supreme cultivator] of the 'Frigid Soul Immortal Sage'."

Lila's heart trembled, but after a moment's hesitation, she voiced her concern: "But doing so... would likely invite a truly immense burden of Karma."

Verdant Consort smiled, her gaze resolute. "When you're already deep in debt, a little more won't break your back. Repaying one portion of Karma is no different from repaying ten."

"We have no Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a title for a supreme ruler who commands primordial chaos] to rely on as our backing. We must seize every advantage ourselves. This may be your only chance to truly change your Destiny."

Hearing this, Lila still hesitated. "But... what about my husband's opinion?"

"Knowing his character," Verdant Consort countered with a calm smile, "what choice do you think he would make if he were here?"

"I understand," she said.

Lila nodded, comprehension dawning in an instant.

Having walked alongside Eldrin Chen for so many years, she knew his mind all too well.

In Eldrin Chen's view, if Opportunity and Fortune lay within reach and one possessed the power to seize it, one should never shy away from the Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect] it entailed.

To Eldrin Chen, risk and reward were always two sides of the same coin. Unless one enjoyed the backing of a Chaos Heavenly Emperor and lacked for nothing, a cultivator who hesitated and feared to venture would forever remain mediocre.

With this clarity, she turned to Verdant Consort and said, "Then we must ask for your aid, Sister."

"…"

Once the decision was made to explore the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent within the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods, the group wasted no further time. They set out together, their steps carrying them toward the Depths of Chaos.

They traversed the Vast and Boundless Chaos, crossing immeasurable stretches of void, until they arrived at the borders of the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods.

Upon reaching the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods, the group discovered, to their surprise, that the primary cultivation method practiced there was also the path of World-Opening to ascend to an Immortal Domain Art [a supreme cultivation art that manifests as a personal immortal realm].

However, the mainstream cultivators of the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods are predominantly from the Divine Clan [a race of beings born with divine power], hence the Immortal Domain [a realm governed by immortal laws] they establish is also referred to as a Divine Domain.

Furthermore, beyond the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods, three thousand Divine Domains stand majestic within the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation], collectively known by the local Divine Spirits [beings of divine nature and power] as the Three Thousand Divine Domains.

"This Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods truly lives up to its former reputation as the foremost among the Southern Abyss Seven Heavenly Domains,"

Gazing upon the grandeur of the three thousand Divine Domains, Verdant Consort could not help but sigh with emotion. "Setting aside the number of Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who rules over a portion of the primordial chaos], the foundational strength of the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods may not be inferior to that of the Three Thousand Immortal Domains."

Everyone nodded in agreement. During the Primordial Era [the mythical first age of creation], the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods boasted five Chaos Divine Sovereign [a supreme ruler born from the chaos], even surpassing the Three Thousand Immortal Domains by a significant margin.

Had it not been for the fact that, after the Primordial Era, the Three Thousand Immortal Domains witnessed the successive emergence of four Chaos Heavenly Emperor within a mere span of several tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth], they likely would not have had the confidence to surpass this lineage.

"The Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent [a vast, ancient landmass filled with ruins from a bygone immortal era] within this place has already opened. To avoid complications, let us enter first."

It was at this moment that Verdant Consort suddenly spoke up.

She immediately plunged deep into the Three Thousand Divine Domains, leading the group into the heart of the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent. Their path led directly towards the foremost of this land's ten great Forbidden Land [a perilous, restricted area]—the Frigid Soul Forbidden Land.

This time, they concealed their identities and engaged in a series of fierce, earth-shaking battles against the myriad deities of the Three Thousand Immortal Domains.

After more than ten consecutive, sprawling battles, they had slain nearly one hundred Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortals from the Divine Clan, nearly shattering the entire generation of prodigies from that clan across the Three Thousand Immortal Domains.

It must be understood that this particular Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal] was unlike those of the past; the number of Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortals who had entered the tribulation fray was not exceptionally high. The total number from the Three Thousand Immortal Domains who had plunged into the conflict was merely two or three hundred at most.

With nearly one hundred of their Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortals slain by this group, it could be said that a small but significant portion of an entire generation of heaven-defying talents from the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods had been extinguished.

According to Verdant Consort's estimation, it was highly likely that this Kalpa Tribulation within the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods would fail to give birth to a single Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle of immortal cultivation, a sovereign of the Dao].

Of course, this was ultimately a contest for the supremacy of the Great Path [the fundamental laws of existence and cultivation], and no one showed any mercy. They fought their way to the very heart of the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent, arriving before the gates of the Frigid Soul Forbidden Land [a perilous, sealed region of immense danger and power].

The Frigid Soul Forbidden Land was the most terrifying such place on this ancient continent, the most perilous location within the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent. Fortunately, this expedition was personally led by Verdant Consort, giving them full confidence in their ability to conquer this Forbidden Land.

Verdant Consort took the lead herself, marshaling the group to assault the Frigid Soul Forbidden Land. After a grueling war of attrition lasting three thousand years, they finally succeeded in seizing control of this formidable Forbidden Land.

Upon securing the Forbidden Land, the group immediately entered to cultivate in seclusion. They sought to utilize the profound mysteries of the Immortal Sage's Path-Field [a cultivator's personal domain, shaped by their comprehension of the Dao] to digest the profound insights and Path Source [the foundational essence of a cultivator's chosen Dao] accumulated during their recent campaigns.

This period of secluded cultivation lasted for a full one hundred thousand years.

As the group emerged from seclusion, Verdant Consort was delighted to discover that nearly every one of them had achieved a significant advancement in their cultivation.

Among them, Ethan Chen reaped the greatest harvest. Having already obtained a Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Divine Spark, he had accumulated an astonishingly profound foundation within the Creation Cauldron.

He then successively experienced the two Forbidden Land realms of Immortal Flame and Frigid Soul, drawing upon their respective Immortal Flame and Frigid Soul origin essences to temper himself. Through this, he comprehended the profound mysteries of Polarity life and death, advancing the Life-Death Great Path to the True Spirit Realm.

Upon reaching this stage, Ethan Chen's power was utterly transformed from what it once was, now bearing a trace of the true bearing of a Primordial One Imperial Lord.

Aside from Ethan Chen, the others had only taken a step or two forward from their existing foundations, without achieving a qualitative breakthrough like establishing an Indestructibility Foundation.

Finally, at the last, Lila emerged from her Seclusion Chamber.

"As expected, she succeeded."

Gazing at the Lila before her, Verdant Consort could not help but murmur inwardly, a look of profound emotion crossing her features.

Just as anticipated, this time Lila had utilized the Frigid Soul Forbidden Land to master the True Spirit Great Path, subsequently triggering the legacy imprint left by the Frigid Soul Immortal Sage.

As the price for receiving the legacy of the Frigid Soul Immortal Sage, Lila likewise pledged that when the Frigid Soul Immortal Sage eventually returns, she would, if possessing sufficient strength, be obligated to lend her aid.

It was precisely because of this vow that Lila obtained not only the legacy of the Frigid Soul Immortal Sage, but also the precious bequest the Frigid Soul Immortal Sage had left behind.

Through this legacy and the Opportunity and Fortune [a rare chance or stroke of fate that can alter one's destiny], Lila was able to cultivate the True Spirit Physique [a supreme physical constitution embodying the purity of a primordial spirit] and the True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a divine ability manifesting the power of one's spiritual core], thereby gaining the unparalleled foundational potential of the Three True Spirit Foundations [a legendary cultivation art that establishes three supreme spiritual foundations].

Thinking of this, Lila could not help but sigh and say, "Although I have obtained this Opportunity and Fortune [a rare chance or stroke of fate that can alter one's destiny] now, repaying the Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect, where actions create debts that must be settled] in the future will likely be a headache."

Verdant Consort smiled lightly before speaking, "Do not worry. An Opportunity and Fortune [a rare chance or stroke of fate that can alter one's destiny] such as this may be one of the greatest in your entire life. We are in no position to be picky."

"Moreover, the day of the Immortal Sage's [a supreme realm of cultivation, a step below true divinity] awakening is still far off. Even if that day truly arrives, your husband will be standing at the forefront to bear the burden. Your duty is to cultivate diligently."

Upon hearing this, Lila thought of Eldrin Chen. Across the vast expanse of two Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle spanning billions of years], that peerless figure in robes white as snow had always shielded them from the storm at the very front. An unprecedented sense of security welled up within her heart.

For a moment, all her feelings of hesitation, unease, and anxiety seemed to vanish from her mind.

Suppressing her wandering thoughts, she could not help but smile and say, "Yes. Only by becoming stronger can I stand and fight by his side."

Seeing this, Violet Consort Yan turned to survey their surroundings and said, "Our business here is concluded. There is no need to linger. Let us make our way to the Chaos Heaven Abyss [a legendary and perilous chasm where primordial chaos and heavenly energies converge]."

"Agreed."

Not long after, the group departed from the Three Thousand Divine Domains and set their course for the Chaos Heaven Abyss [a legendary and perilous chasm where primordial chaos and heavenly energies converge].

In truth, with their current foundations, even if they were to cease their endeavors now, they could already begin their breakthrough into the Great Encompassing Realm [the highest known realm of cultivation, representing the pinnacle of power and understanding].

The reason they sought to traverse the Heaven Abyss [a vast and perilous chasm of chaotic energies separating major realms], aside from further tempering themselves through experience, was also to journey to the Northern Abyss Six Heavenly Domains [a cluster of six powerful and ancient celestial domains in the northern reaches] and attempt to explore the fragments of the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent [a legendary primordial continent shattered in a cataclysmic war of immortals] that were said to lie within the Northern Abyss [the collective name for the northernmost, desolate, and dangerous regions of the cosmos].

According to ancient lore, of the seven great fragments from the shattered Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent, three had fallen into the hands of the powers within the Six Domains of the Northern Abyss and were subsequently used as proving grounds for those cultivating towards the Great Encompassing realm.

Thus, the group concealed their true identities, crossed the treacherous expanse of the Chaos Heaven Abyss [a specific, notoriously unstable region of the Heaven Abyss], and slipped silently into the territories of the Six Domains of the Northern Abyss.

Regrettably, after exploring three separate fragments of the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent, they were astonished to discover that the legacies within all three had vanished without a trace.

"The legacies are gone?"

Upon realizing this, Verdant Consort felt a surge of profound unease.

The disappearance of three separate legacies from Chaos Immortal Sage [a supreme level of existence that has transcended the ordinary immortal realms and touched the primordial chaos] likely hinted at dealings between a Chaos Demon Sovereign [a demonic entity of power comparable to a Chaos Immortal Sage] and a Chaos Immortal Sage, or perhaps indicated the presence of an existence that had cultivated a foundation surpassing the Six True Spirit Foundations [a legendary and nearly perfect foundational cultivation method involving six primordial spiritual cores]. Such a being could have seized these Forbidden Land [places of immense danger and power, often sealed or restricted] and accepted the immense Karma [the cosmic law of cause and effect, action and consequence] tied to inheriting a Chaos-level legacy.

Regardless of which scenario was true, the secrets lurking behind this matter were undoubtedly momentous and far too dangerous to pry into lightly.

"Enough. There is no need to dwell on it further."

Verdant Consort shook her head. In the end, she still led the group to cultivate in seclusion for a time within these Forbidden Land [places of extreme danger and profound opportunity, often sealed or isolated].

However, without the legacy and lingering blessings of the Chaos Immortal Sage, these three Immortal Sage Path-Field [a cultivator's personal domain of enlightenment and power] no longer possessed that world-shaking Creation [the primordial act of genesis, the power to shape reality from chaos].

As for the others, their innate talent and potential were insufficient, and they had not yet forged their own unique paths. It was not yet their time to take that ultimate step. Relying solely on the Opportunity and Fortune [the confluence of chance and destiny that guides a cultivator's journey] within an Immortal Sage Path-Field was not enough to cultivate a True Spirit Foundation [the supreme, flawless spiritual foundation for one's cultivation path].

After cultivating in these Forbidden Land for not long, their foundational strength and reserves of power had seen some improvement. Yet, they consistently found it difficult to shatter that ultimate bottleneck.

Seeing that time was running short, Verdant Consort finally led the group back, traversing the Chaos [the formless, primordial state before existence] and crossing the Ancient Chaos Path to return to the Southern Abyss Seven Heavenly Domains.

By now, less than one hundred thousand years remained until the end of the Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal]. Without a moment's delay, they immediately returned to the Southern Abyss Six Heavenly Domains and began their assault on the Great Encompassing Realm [the Golden Immortal realm, where one's power encompasses a vast domain].

Among them, Verdant Consort was the first to charge the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm. With the profound foundation of her seven True Spirit Foundation, she performed the World-Opening [the act of creating one's own Immortal Domain] and completed the ascension of her Immortal Domain [a cultivator's personal realm, a world shaped by their will and power] in an astonishingly brief time, opening up one hundred and thirty Eighth Heaven [layers or tiers within an Immortal Domain, representing its depth and power] domains.

These one hundred and thirty Eighth Heaven domains exceeded Exquisite Jiang's achievement by a full six layers, surpassed only by Eldrin Chen's one hundred and forty-four layers. This was a testament to the staggering depth of Verdant Consort's foundation.

Of course, by comparison, Exquisite Jiang possessed greater potential for future growth. Although Verdant Consort's origin as a Primordial Chaos Verdant Lotus [a legendary plant born from the primordial chaos, possessing immense innate power] was heaven-defying, upon reaching a certain level, even such a supreme origin could become a shackle, limiting further advancement.

Regardless, Verdant Consort's current foundation and genius were truly awe-inspiring.

She had attained the Dao through a Chaos Spiritual Root [a spiritual root of the highest order, born from the primordial chaos]. Beyond possessing a foundation of heaven-defying profundity, she also possessed several Companion Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts that grow and evolve alongside their master].

These were five treasures: the 'Scripture of the Primordial Chaos Verdant Lotus', the 'Primordial Chaos Verdant Lotus Immortal Robe', the 'Primordial Chaos Verdant Lotus Throne', the 'Azure Dragon Stirring Sea Sword', and the 'Crimson Dragon Sky-Scorching Sword'.

Among these five treasures, the first three were merely nascent Chaos Spiritual Treasure Embryo [the embryonic forms of artifacts born from chaos]. They were but preliminary forms, destined to fully mature into true Chaos Spiritual Artifact [artifacts of ultimate power forged from chaos] only as Verdant Consort's cultivation realm advanced.

The Azure Dragon Stirring Sea Sword and the Crimson Dragon Sky-Scorching Sword had reincarnated alongside Verdant Consort.

The Azure Dragon Stirring Sea Sword had absorbed the vast, life-giving vitality of the Primordial Chaos Verdant Lotus [a mythical lotus born from the primordial chaos], coalescing and being born from its fusion with a single verdant Lotus Leaf. The Crimson Dragon Sky-Scorching Sword had absorbed a portion of the deathly aura from a Lotus Seed, merging with the shed lotus husk to be born, imbued with the overwhelming power of Slaughter [a divine ability representing absolute destruction].

Both of these peerless treasures were Innate Supreme Treasure Embryo [the embryonic forms of supreme treasures born from the world's natural laws]. As Verdant Consort's cultivation progressed, they would eventually transform into complete Innate Supreme Treasure [supreme treasures of innate origin, representing the pinnacle of natural law].

From this breakthrough, Verdant Consort had obtained a full twenty-three strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a primal spiritual light that grants innate indestructibility and elevates one's fundamental nature].

She infused five of these strands into the Five Extremities Celestial Pillars [five celestial pillars representing the extremes of the cosmos], storing the remaining eighteen for future use.

For a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a Golden Immortal who has comprehended a Great Dao and achieved a state of encompassing unity], fusing with Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light was fundamentally about elevating one's latent potential and foundational nature, raising the ceiling of one's innate aptitude until it rivaled that of a Chaos Demon God [a primordial demon god born from chaos] or even a Chaos Primordial God [a primordial deity born from chaos].

However, Verdant Consort had attained the Dao through a Chaos Spiritual Root, granting her an innate aptitude and potential already at the Chaos Primordial God level. She would face no significant bottlenecks before her ascension to Path Ancestor Immortal Sage [the ultimate realm where one becomes an Ancestor of a Great Dao and an Immortal Sage], and thus had no need to fuse Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light to enhance her aptitude.

Conversely, the reason Nyssa Qu needed to integrate Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial energy from which all things are born] and also fuse with Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a divine light that grants an unbreakable foundation] was because she was not a born Chaos Nine-Colored Clam [a primordial clam spirit of immense potential]. She required these to supplement her innate aptitude and foundational reserves.

Returning to the main thread, following Verdant Consort's breakthrough, Lila and Violet Consort Yan also advanced a step further, stepping into the realm of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the Golden Immortal stage where one's inner world becomes vast and all-encompassing].

However, their foundational reserves could not compare to the other two. Each had only opened one hundred and ten Eighth Heaven [the eighth layer of the heavens within a cultivator's inner world] domains and obtained eighteen strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light.

Of these strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light, five were used to solidify their Five Extremes Celestial Pillars [the five foundational pillars within their inner world]. The remaining thirteen strands were divided: three each were integrated into their Great Path [their core cultivation method], their physical bodies, and their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of their being]. This left each of them with four strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light still in reserve.

Thereafter, Ethan Chen also completed his breakthrough. His potential was exceedingly formidable, allowing him to open one hundred and eight Eighth Heaven domains.