Chapter 1931 : Ascension of the Indestructible Spirit

Unfortunately, Ethan Chen possessed only a single True Spirit Foundation [a foundational cultivation art based on a True Spirit's essence], and thus obtained only twelve strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a primal, unbreakable spiritual radiance].

Regarding these Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light, Ethan Chen first stored away two strands. He then fused five strands into the Five Extremes Celestial Pillars [the five cosmic pillars representing the extremes of the world], two strands into his physical body and Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], and the remaining three strands into his Life-Death Great Path [a profound cultivation art governing the principles of life and death].

Not long after Ethan Chen's breakthrough, Ao Hong, the Flaming Phoenix, and the Primordial Era Ice Phoenix [an ancient ice phoenix from the dawn of time] successively attempted to prove their path and attain the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the supreme realm of a Golden Immortal whose power encompasses all].

Among the three, Ao Hong had reforged seven Indestructibility Foundation [foundations of unbreakable power] within the Creation Cauldron [a legendary cauldron capable of creation and refinement] and had also integrated a Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Foundation. His origin was that of a Chaos Demon God [a primordial demon born from chaos], so his breakthrough to Great Encompassing Golden Immortal was as natural as water flowing downhill.

The Flaming Phoenix and Primordial Era Ice Phoenix, having accumulated profound insights during this Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal], each refined two strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light. They cultivated both a Great Encompassing Physique [a physique whose power encompasses all aspects] and an Innate Great Path [a supreme, innate cultivation art], ultimately shattering the Destiny Heavenly Pass [a heavenly barrier governing fate] to successfully ascend to the realm of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

However, by comparison, Ao Hong's cultivation of seven Indestructibility Foundation meant his strength was far from weak among early-stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

The Flaming Phoenix and Primordial Era Ice Phoenix, lacking such Opportunity and Fortune [the confluence of chance and destiny], were slightly inferior in combat prowess, ranking as merely average among early-stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

Thus, the Chen Immortal Clan gained five new Great Encompassing Golden Immortal: Verdant Consort, Violet Consort Yan, Lila, Ethan Chen, and Ao Hong.

If one includes the two guest elders, the Flaming Phoenix and the Primordial Era Ice Phoenix, then this Kalpa Tribulation could be said to have ushered in seven newly ascended Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

Among these seven, Verdant Consort possessed extraordinary foundational strength. Having just broken through, she already wielded power that could startle immortals, her overall might now rivaling that of a Sixth Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

Having cultivated the three great True Spirit Foundation techniques, Violet Consort Yan and Lila could already be considered extraordinarily powerful, possessing strength that surpassed the third level of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm]. They could be counted as being at the half-step Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage threshold.

This was still because the two women focused more on auxiliary abilities. If one were to consider only their supportive Divine Ability [supernatural power] and methods, their combat prowess was sufficient to rival a true Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage.

Ethan Chen also possessed combat power at the half-step Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage level. Furthermore, Ethan Chen, who excelled in the Slaughter [Annihilation] path, possessed frontal combat capabilities that were even slightly greater than those of Violet Consort Yan and Lila. His Slaughter techniques were potent enough to pose a threat to a genuine Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage.

Returning to the main thread, after everyone had successively broken through to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm, the calamitous aura of this Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal] gradually dissipated, and the tribulation itself came to an end.

Eldrin Chen emerged from his secluded cultivation at the first opportunity. After casting a glance over the assembled group, he nodded with satisfaction and said, "Excellent. You have not disappointed me."

"This Kalpa Tribulation has been tainted with a measure of Karma [the cosmic law of cause and effect]."

At that moment, Verdant Consort informed Eldrin Chen about the Immortal Sage [a realm of profound enlightenment and power] legacies the two women had obtained during this tribulation.

After listening, Eldrin Chen smiled and replied, "Do not trouble yourselves over the Karma. The contest upon the Great Path [the ultimate Dao] permits only advancement, not retreat. As long as we still aspire to reach higher realms, we are destined to become entangled in Karma."

"Moreover, even if we avoided Karma, do you truly believe that when the Burst [Cataclysm] of the Chaos War [the Primordial Conflict] arrives and the cataclysmic Tribulation [Heavenly Calamity] descends, you or I could truly remain aloof?"

Hearing his words, everyone nodded in understanding, a faint smile appearing on their faces.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen spoke up, "You have just made your breakthrough. Go into seclusion to rest and consolidate your gains first. I will go and deploy the Seven Domains Grand Formation."

With these words, Eldrin Chen arrived within the Chaos [the primordial, formless void beyond the ordered realms] and began setting up Formation [powerful magical arrays that channel energy for defense or attack] for the four newly opened Immortal Domain [a realm governed by an immortal, a personal pocket dimension of immense power].

This time, after Verdant Consort, Violet Consort Yan, Lila, and Ethan Chen had ascended to the Immortal Domain realm, they positioned their respective Immortal Domain domains outside the original Three Immortal Domains, forming a Chaos Seven Stars Field [a strategic formation resembling the seven stars of the Big Dipper, anchored in the Chaos].

This had been pre-arranged long ago. Now, seeing the four Immortal Domain domains fall into place, Eldrin Chen immediately used the Seven Great Immortal Domains as a foundation to deploy a Chaos Seven Stars Grand Formation [the grand, empowered version of the Seven Stars formation].

After successfully establishing the grand formation, Eldrin Chen let out a slight sigh of relief.

This Chaos Seven Stars Grand Formation could consolidate the power of all seven Immortal Domain domains, resulting in defensive capabilities that could be described as exceedingly formidable.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, even an existence at the Eighth Heaven of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the eighth tier of the Golden Immortal realm, a pinnacle of cultivation] would find it exceedingly difficult to breach this Chaos Grand Formation.

It could be said that with this Formation in place, the security of the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain had been elevated by at least one or two levels.

After dealing with the Formation, Eldrin Chen returned to the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain and immediately sought out Worthy Verdancy Chen, then inquired, "During this Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that tests cultivators and reshapes eras], you did not prove your Great Encompassing [the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] Dao. Was there some issue?"

"This child feels his path has not yet reached its end," he replied. "I intend to accumulate more years of cultivation and experience."

Worthy Verdancy Chen spoke, a trace of solemnity flickering deep within his pupils.

Eldrin Chen nodded, then said, "It seems you have gained some insight. Since you have made your decision, proceed according to the thoughts in your heart."

"..."

As the Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense destruction and renewal] concluded, Verdant Consort and the others gradually consolidated their cultivation bases.

Once everyone emerged from seclusion, Eldrin Chen gathered them together. Looking upon the assembled members of the Chen Immortal Clan, he could not help but reveal a faint smile.

Now, the Chen Immortal Clan boasted seven clan-born Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of immortal cultivation]: Eldrin Chen, Exquisite Jiang, Nyssa Qu, Verdant Consort, Violet Consort Yan, Lila, and Ethan Chen.

Adding in trusted allies bound by the Great Path Contract [a profound and unbreakable oath sworn upon the Heavenly Dao], such as Gentle Deer and Ao Hong, the Chen Immortal Clan effectively possessed nine Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

The three Chaos Fiend [ancient, primordial demonic beings]—Flaming Phoenix, Primordial Era Ice Phoenix, and Violet Ultimate Ancient Phoenix—were merely cooperative partners, at most holding guest elder status with minimal binding obligations, and thus were not counted among this number.

Even so, a single clan possessing nine Great Encompassing Golden Immortal was already an extraordinary feat.

If the Chen Immortal Clan were considered separately and ranked among the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races [a prestigious ranking of the most powerful immortal bloodlines], they would likely secure a place within the top fifty.

Of course, this is merely the count of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal cultivators. If one were to calculate based on true strength, the Chen Immortal Clan would still be unable to rank within the top fifty of the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races.

Although called the Hundred Races, the number of Hundred Immortal Spirit Races far exceeds mere hundreds. Those able to rank within the top hundred all have the presence of an Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal powerhouse to anchor their Fortune.

Consider this: the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain possesses a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection cultivator, yet within the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races, they are still only ranked in the lower tiers.

Through the accumulation of vast eons, the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races across the Three Thousand Immortal Domains have never lacked for powerful Great Encompassing Golden Immortal cultivators. Those at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage and Late Stage are not uncommon either.

However, it is exceedingly rare for a single clan to possess more than ten Great Encompassing cultivators.

The fundamental reason lies in the immense resources required for a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal to cultivate and advance.

The resources consumed to nurture a single Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal are sufficient to elevate over a dozen cultivators to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Early Stage.

Yet, a single Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal can contend with over a dozen of the weakest Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Early Stage cultivators, and could even defeat them one by one.

Of course, the most critical point is that nurturing an Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal carries a significant cost, while the probability of success is only one in several dozen.

Many Great Encompassing Golden Immortal clans have successively nurtured over a hundred Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal cultivators, only to see not a single one successfully attain the Great Encompassing realm. This clearly demonstrates the immense risk involved in such an endeavor.

It is precisely for this reason that the Great Encompassing Golden Immortals [the pinnacle cultivators who have perfected their golden immortal form] of most clans tend to concentrate their resources primarily on their own advancement.

The fact that the Chen Immortal Clan [an immortal clan founded by the Chen family] could produce nine Great Encompassing Golden Immortals is fundamentally due to Eldrin Chen's unwavering and exhaustive nurturing, coupled with the aid of world-shaking Opportunities and Fortunes [rare chances and blessings that defy fate] such as the Primordial Chaos Verdant Lotus Seed [a legendary seed born from primordial chaos, capable of nurturing supreme spiritual foundations], Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial energy from which all creation was born], and the Creation Cauldron [a divine cauldron rumored to hold the power of creation itself].

These Opportunities and Fortunes increased the likelihood of clan members attaining the Great Encompassing realm by dozens of times. Furthermore, these individuals possessed solid foundations to begin with, leaving almost no room for failure. This confluence of factors forged the miracle of a single clan producing nine Great Encompassing cultivators within the span of three Kalpa Tribulations [cosmic cycles of immense destruction and rebirth].

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath and then said with a smile, "You have all performed admirably."

"Now, our Chen Immortal Clan boasts nine Great Encompassing cultivators. Henceforth, within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the vast, myriad realms inhabited by immortals], we shall no longer be considered a weak Great EncompassingImmortal Clan."

Hearing his words, smiles graced the faces of all present.

Seeing this, Nyssa Qu inquired, "Now that our Chen Immortal Clan has nine Great Encompassing Golden Immortals, our future cultivation resources will inevitably become somewhat insufficient. We must seek additional resources from the outside."

Upon hearing this, Exquisite Jiang also nodded and said, "With our current strength, we already possess the capability to wage wars of significant scale within the Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state from which all realms were born]."

"There is no need for haste regarding this matter,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head and then spoke, "You have only just broken through to the Great Encompassing realm and still have significant room for advancement. For now, first acclimate yourselves to the power of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal. After the Great Encompassing Immortal Banquet [a grand celestial feast held to celebrate the attainment of the Great Encompassing realm] concludes, we shall then make plans concerning matters of the Kalpa Tribulation."

Hearing this, everyone nodded slightly, a faint smile gracing their features.

With matters settled thus, the assembly dispersed. Before departing, Ethan Chen presented Eldrin Chen with two strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a rare, primordial light that grants temporary invulnerability], repaying the two strands Eldrin Chen had bestowed upon him in years past.

Verdant Consort lingered as well. She handed all eighteen strands of her Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light to Eldrin Chen, saying with a smile, "These hold little use for me, but I trust they can help the clan through its current pressing needs."

Eldrin Chen nodded, a pleased smile on his face. "With this Innate Indestructibility light, we can procure some crucial cultivation resources."

"..."

Not long after, the Immortal Court convened another Great Encompassing Immortal Banquet [a grand celestial gathering for the most powerful immortals].

This banquet's commencement was marked by the Chen Immortal Clan producing several more Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme rank among Golden Immortals, signifying mastery over vast cosmic principles], a feat that truly stirred the assembly.

After all, within a mere three Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration, often spanning billions of years], the Chen Immortal Clan had brought forth nine Great Encompassing Golden Immortal. Such a rate was exceedingly rare even across the Three Thousand Immortal Domains.

Yet, upon realizing it was the Chen Immortal Clan, many present wore expressions of sudden understanding.

It stood to reason. The Supreme Lunar Imperial Lord had once been a peerless powerhouse at the Half-Step Divine Sovereign realm. It was highly probable she had left behind astonishing Opportunity and Fortune [a confluence of destiny and favorable circumstances] and hidden contingencies. Furthermore, with the patronage of two Divine Sovereign and two Path Ancestor Immortal Sage [a supreme being who has mastered a fundamental cosmic Path and attained sagehood], nurturing nine Great Encompassing Golden Immortal seemed almost within expectation.

Having grasped this understanding, the various Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of cultivation, representing supreme power and longevity] took no further action, allowing this Great Encompassing Immortal Banquet [a grand celestial gathering of the most powerful immortals] to proceed in an orderly fashion.

Once all festivities concluded, Eldrin Chen led his entourage back to the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain [the immortal realm under Eldrin Chen's dominion] and began the final preparations for launching the Chaos War [a cataclysmic conflict destined to reshape the cosmic order].

He took stock of the congratulatory gifts received, finding them to be relatively commonplace treasures, none truly capable of stirring the hearts of those in the mid or late stages of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm.

He stored these treasures away simply, selecting several sets of one-to-four-aperture divine stones [rare stones imbued with spiritual power through one to four natural orifices] and distributing them to Verdant Consort and others to be integrated into their True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a supreme spiritual core technique that forms the foundation for ultimate divine abilities].

He then chose several rare and peerless Great Encompassing Rare Treasure [extraordinarily precious materials of cosmic rarity] to serve as the uncommon medicinal catalysts for the members of the Chen Immortal Clan in their cultivation of Great Encompassing Divine Ability [cosmic-level supreme techniques].

Having broken through to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm this time, three individuals—Verdant Consort, Violet Consort Yan, and Lila—had all successfully cultivated their True Spirit Primordial Spirit, granting them the capacity to cultivate five more True Spirit Divine Ability [divine abilities derived from and empowered by the True Spirit Primordial Spirit].

Eldrin Chen planned for them to first cultivate two abilities to enhance their combat prowess immediately, leaving the remaining choices for a later date.

After a period of careful deliberation, the three swiftly reached their decisions.

Among them, Verdant Consort, whose combat strength was formidable, chose to cultivate the battle-enhancing 'Polarity Verdant Lotus Sword Fiend' [a divine sword art harnessing the opposing forces of creation and destruction within a verdant lotus] and the Forbidden Divine Ability [a class of immensely powerful techniques with severe cultivation risks or costs] known as 'Ultimate Sublimation' [a technique that forces a temporary, explosive transcendence of one's limits].

These two Divine Ability [supreme supernatural techniques]; the former could augment the power of the Crimson-Azure Twin Dragon Swords [a pair of legendary swords embodying fire and water dragon spirits], while the latter could multiply Verdant Consort's combat strength severalfold. Both were nascent forms of Primordial One Grade Divine Ability [the highest theoretical grade of divine ability, originating from the dawn of creation], their potency far surpassing that of ordinary Great Encompassing Divine Ability.

Violet Consort Yan then cultivated two Primordial One Grade Divine Ability based on her Innate Spiritual Treasure [a cultivator's life-bound magical artifact], the 'Dutian Violet Flame Net'. These were the 'Dutian Violet Flame Divine Thunder' and the 'Nether Heaven Sealing Realm Path'.

Both of these Divine Ability [profound supernatural techniques] were legacies inherited from the Immortal Flame Heavenly Emperor. The former excelled at area-of-effect attacks, capable of multiplying the power of the Violet Flame divine thunder unleashed by the 'Dutian Violet Flame Net', thereby compensating for Violet Consort Yan's relative shortcomings in offensive power.

The latter was a Spatial Attribute Divine Ability, which further enhanced the sealing and containment effects of the 'Dutian Violet Flame Net'.

If both of these Divine Ability were simultaneously empowered upon the 'Dutian Violet Flame Net', its ability to entrap and seal enemies would undoubtedly be vastly elevated.

Lila had also cultivated two Primordial One Grade Divine Ability: the Forbidden Divine Ability 'Frost Soul Ascendant Immortal Path', and the 'Eternal Glacier'.

These two Divine Ability were also secret legacies of the Frigid Soul Immortal Sage. The former could multiply the power of all ice-attribute Divine Ability she cultivated.

The latter could manifest the 'Eternal Glacier' to seal a Chaos [a primordial state of formless potential]. Wherever it passed, it could freeze all things, even halting the operation of fundamental Rule Great Path [the laws of reality] at their very source.

If, before, the combat prowess of Lila and Violet Consort Yan was merely at the level of the fourth layer of a half-step Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm], then after mastering these two Divine Ability, their strength had undergone another qualitative leap.

Now, both of them possessed combat power at the level of a fourth-layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal. In their areas of expertise, they could even rival a Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

Besides these three, Eldrin Chen had specially purchased a Five-Aperture Divine Stone [a rare spiritual ore with five apertures] for Ethan Chen.

With the aid of this Five-Aperture Divine Stone, Ethan Chen opened his fifth Primordial Spirit Apertures [the spiritual gateways within a cultivator's soul core], thereby mastering a Slaughter-type Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural technique] named 'Polarity Life-Death Slash'.

This was a pure Slaughter-type Forbidden Divine Ability [a divine ability of ultimate destructive power, often with severe costs]. When fueled by the Polarity Life and Death Twin Swords and the True Spirit [the perfected spiritual foundation] level of the Life-Death Great Path [a cultivation art governing the profound mysteries of life and death], Ethan Chen's ultimate strike held the potential to slay even a cultivator at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].

However, the power of such a Divine Ability was overwhelmingly immense. With his current cultivation level, Ethan Chen could unleash it at most once per Kalpa Tribulation [a grand cosmic cycle, often spanning billions of years].

"It is nearly time."

By the time everyone had successfully cultivated their Innate Divine Ability [a divine ability born from one's innate constitution or profound comprehension], over three million years had passed since the Kalpa Tribulation began.

On this day, Eldrin Chen slowly exhaled a breath as he emerged from seclusion, having completed another breakthrough in his cultivation.

More than two hundred million years had flowed by since the start of the Kalpa Tribulation. Finally, Eldrin Chen achieved another advancement in his Great Path [a supreme cultivation art representing a fundamental law of existence] cultivation, elevating it to the third level of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm.

Coupled with his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core cultivation] breakthrough not long before, Eldrin Chen's cultivation in Fleshly Body Sanctification [the art of perfecting the physical body], Primordial Spirit Path Attainment [the art of mastering the spiritual soul], and Path of Path Mastery [the art of comprehending and wielding a fundamental Great Path] had all now reached the third level of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm.

Upon reaching this stage, Eldrin Chen discovered that any single one of his three Great Path now possessed power comparable to that of a cultivator at the Fifth Heaven of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the fifth level of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].

If he were to converge the power of all three paths, further augmented by his Divine Ability and the Returning Abyss Seal, Eldrin Chen's true combat prowess had undergone a qualitative leap.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, his own power had now fully entered the realm of the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal. Even against a Violet Ultimate Ancient Phoenix [a legendary phoenix of immense power] at the peak of its strength, he would be more than a match.

"My cultivation has broken through once more. My current strength is beyond what it was just yesterday."

"It is time," he murmured to himself, a steely resolve settling in his heart, "to unleash the Chaos War."

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen allowed a faint smile to touch his lips before stepping out from the Seclusion Chamber [a chamber for isolated cultivation and meditation].