Chapter 1932 : The Primordial Bull's Lair

After emerging from seclusion, Eldrin Chen found Energy Abyss Chen had been waiting outside his cave abode for quite some time.

He promptly invited Energy Abyss Chen to the chessboard beside the ancient tree and inquired, "Having been away for so many years, Patriarch, I presume you have selected a target upon your return."

"See for yourself."

With a solemn expression, Energy Abyss Chen immediately produced a scroll of the Chaos Star Chart and handed it to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen opened it and gave a slight nod of approval. The chart encompassed dozens of Chaos Path Domain, among which over ten Chaos Lair had been specially marked by Energy Abyss Chen.

The dozen or so Chaos Lair singled out by Energy Abyss Chen were all located in relatively remote areas, with no powerful Chaos Demon God of the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm in their vicinity.

Most crucially, these Chaos Demon God had no formidable, untouchable patrons backing them.

"Excellent."

After studying the chart carefully for a moment, Eldrin Chen nodded with satisfaction.

Seeing this, Energy Abyss Chen asked, "Which Chaos Lair shall we strike this time?"

"Our window to strike may be but a single opportunity."

Eldrin Chen spoke with measured calm, then, after a moment of contemplation, pointed a finger at a particularly radiant Chaos Lair marked upon the Chaos Star Chart and declared, "This one."

"The Primordial Chaos Golden Bull Nest."

Seeing this, Energy Abyss Chen could not help but let his expression shift slightly.

Among the dozen or so mid-grade Great Encompassing Nest he had selected this time, the Chaos Golden Bull Nest ranked within the top three in terms of strength.

The entire Chaos Golden Bull Nest was guarded by no fewer than seven Chaos Demon God. These particular Chaos Demon God belonged to the rare 'Golden-Back Savage Bull' clan among their kind.

It was said the Golden-Back Savage Bull fed upon Adamantine [a mythical, supremely hard metal], their physical bodies unparalleled within the Chaos Demon God race, born as supreme Demon God of Fleshly Body Sanctification [a cultivation path focused on tempering the physical form to an indestructible state].

Most crucially, within this Chaos Golden Bull Nest resided a formidable Golden-Back Savage Bull King, a powerhouse at the Sixth Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm.

His cultivation had stagnated at the Sixth Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal for over tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of immense duration]. He had even once clashed with a Chaos Demon God at the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm without suffering defeat, a testament to the Golden-Back Savage Bull King's formidable prowess.

Considering this, Energy Abyss Chen could not help but remark, "The Golden-Back Savage Bull clan is renowned for their defense. Storming their nest will be no easy feat."

"For this first battle, perhaps we should choose a weaker target, to increase our certainty of victory."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, however, and spoke: "Within that Golden-Back Savage Bull lair lies a large Immortality Adamantine Vein [a rich mineral deposit of a legendary, unyielding metal], from which even a small amount of Great Encompassing Rank Great Encompassing Adamantine [a supreme-grade metal forged under cosmic principles] can be extracted."

"This would not only be of immense benefit to your cultivation, but it could also be used to forge Great Encompassing Divine Armor [armor imbued with the power of the cosmos], which would be of great use to the clan's many Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [immortals who have mastered the principles of the cosmos]."

Hearing this, Energy Abyss Chen fell into a brief contemplation before asking, "Are you confident in success?"

"Nothing in this world is absolutely certain; there is no such thing as a ten-tenths guarantee."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, yet his voice was firm as he declared, "But regardless, we must try. At the very least, our strength is sufficient to advance or retreat as we please."

Seeing his resolve, Energy Abyss Chen said no more on the matter.

With that settled, Eldrin Chen studied the map for a while longer, finally circling another Chaos Lair [a perilous domain born from primordial chaos].

When Energy Abyss Chen saw which one was marked, his heart gave a slight jolt.

The Chaos Lair circled by Eldrin Chen was named the 'Silver Dragon Chaos Nest' [the lair of a silver-scaled dragon within the chaos], and it was far from an ordinary Chaos Lair.

The Silver Dragon Chaos Nest has risen to prominence for a mere five billion years. Its Sovereign is the rare 'Primordial Era Silver Dragon', a lineage that belongs to the Primordial Chaos Dragon Clan.

It is said this 'Primordial Era Silver Dragon' was a holy spirit born from a Mithril Vein. Its physical aptitude rivals that of a supreme Indestructibility Foundation cultivator, and it has cultivated the path of Fleshly Body Sanctification to the realm of the Sixth Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

Because it took form from a Mithril Vein, the Primordial Era Silver Dragon possesses an innate immunity to magic [the ability to resist or nullify mystical arts]. It can negate eighty percent of the damage from magical power, Great Path techniques, and various Divine Ability attacks originating from beings of its own cultivation level.

Therefore, aside from formidable enemies who also specialize in Fleshly Body Sanctification, even other existences at the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal level may not necessarily be a match for this Primordial Era Silver Dragon.

It is said that several Kalpa Tribulation ago, this Primordial Era Silver Dragon even defeated a Chaos Demon God of the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal level in a direct confrontation.

Considering this, Energy Abyss Chen could not help but remark, "This Primordial Era Silver Dragon possesses innate magic immunity. The Divine Ability of an ordinary Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal cultivator would struggle to inflict significant harm upon it."

"Given our current strength, it is likely unwise for us to provoke this Primordial Era Silver Dragon."

"I am well aware."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, his tone calm as he stated, "We shall set aside the Silver Dragon Chaos Nest for now. If our power grows sufficient in the future, we may reconsider taking action."

Hearing this, Energy Abyss Chen finally let out a sigh of relief and added, "This Primordial Era Silver Dragon possesses the potential to reach the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm. Once it breaks through to the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal stage, its combat power would likely be comparable to a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection cultivator who has mastered the Path of Path Mastery."

"Should we face them in the future, we must still be cautious in our dealings."

Eldrin Chen did not reply. He casually set the map aside and then spoke, "The time is almost right. I shall have our people prepare to move."

"..."

Since the decision to act had been made, Eldrin Chen naturally did not delay in the slightest.

This time, to completely seize the Chaos Golden Bull Nest, the Chen Immortal Clan was prepared to commit its entire force, bringing all its power to bear in a single decisive battle to settle the fate of the heavens and earth.

The Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of immortal cultivation] combatants numbered ten in total. Among them, even the weakest, Ao Hong, possessed the combat power of a Third Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

There were also four individuals with Fourth Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal combat power: Lila, Ethan Chen, and Violet Consort Yan.

As for Nyssa Qu and Gentle Deer, their cultivation breakthroughs had occurred earlier. Their cultivation bases had already reached the Second Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, granting them combat power at the Fifth Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal level. Among them, Nyssa Qu had even barely touched the threshold of the Sixth Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

Those with Sixth Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal combat power numbered three: Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, and the Reincarnation Body [a powerful avatar formed through profound reincarnation techniques].

Coupled with Eldrin Chen himself, who possessed the combat power of a Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, the current Chen Immortal Clan was a force to be reckoned with. Even against two opponents of the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal level, they should now possess the strength to stand and fight.

Of course, the comparison method of the Chen Immortal Clan only applies to the most ordinary Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a cultivator who has reached the seventh level of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].

If the opponent were a powerful Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a cultivator at the late stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] who also possessed the strength to fight beyond their tier, the Chen Immortal Clan would likely struggle to contend with even a single one.

Returning to the main topic, after gathering everyone, Eldrin Chen met with the Violet Ultimate Ancient Phoenix [an ancient and immensely powerful phoenix of the ultimate violet lineage] and specifically requested that three of the Phoenix Clan's Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [cultivators of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] remain to guard the Seven Great Immortal Domains.

In truth, even without the three of them standing guard, relying on the World-Protecting True Spirit [a powerful guardian spirit bound to protect a world] and the Formation [a complex array of magical barriers and energy channels] of the Seven Great Immortal Domains, they could still hold out against a Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal for a considerable period.

However, after entrusting this task to the three, Eldrin Chen finally felt a measure of relief settle in his heart.

With this matter settled, Eldrin Chen immediately traversed the Chaos [the primordial, formless void between ordered realms], leading the group towards the Depths of Chaos. Unnoticed, they crossed more than ten Path Domain [vast cosmic territories governed by a specific cultivation path or principle] and arrived within the Path Domain where the Chaos Golden Bull Nest was located.

The location of this Chaos Golden Bull Nest could be considered the very outermost fringe of the Tri-Pole Primordial Domain's sphere of influence.

In this region, the Sea of Chaos Water [the turbulent, energy-charged waters of the primordial void] grew even more violent, and the number of Chaos Lair [stable pockets of order and spiritual energy within the Chaos, often inhabited by powerful beings] became significantly scarcer.

"This Path Domain is more than ten times larger than the Eastern Departure Flame Domain, yet it holds only around thirty Chaos Lair," Nyssa Qu mused, gazing at the domain before them, a trace of gravity coloring her expression. "It seems the farther one travels from the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the core realms of cultivation order], the more difficult it becomes for Chaos Lair to form."

Contemplating the vast Path Domain before them, Nyssa Qu fell into a pensive silence, her demeanor tinged with solemnity.

Eldrin Chen nodded and then began to speak. "In truth, every Chaos Lair and Immortal Domain possesses a certain capacity to suppress the surrounding Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation], though none can match the vast influence of a Primordial Chaos Domain."

"Each Primordial Chaos Domain serves as the heart of a region of Chaos, and the more powerful the domain, the wider its sphere of influence extends."

"It can be foreseen that the regions around Middle Grade Primordial Chaos Domain will be far more prosperous than the area near the Tri-Pole Primordial Domain, and an Upper Grade Chaos Lair is undoubtedly the Central core of an immeasurably vast expanse of Chaos."

Speaking of this, Eldrin Chen could not help but feel a wave of emotion, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over him in that moment.

This incredibly prosperous Three Thousand Immortal Domains and even the Southern Abyss Seven Domains might, in the eyes of the mighty from those Middle Grade Primordial Domain, be viewed as nothing more than remote, backwater villages.

The truly flourishing Chaos Domain must be centered upon an Upper Grade Primordial Chaos Domain, gathering hundreds of Primordial Domain and countless Chaos Lair. Within them, prodigies would be as numerous as the stars, and even the exceedingly rare True Spirit Prodigy [a genius born with the innate potential of a True Spirit] might not truly dominate a single Kalpa Tribulation [a grand cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal].

Even a Chaos Immortal Sage or a Chaos Path Ancestor might not be so uniquely peerless within such realms.

By comparison, while his achievements were unparalleled within the Southern Abyss Seven Domains, placed within such a glorious Primordial Domain, there might well be those who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

After all, Eldrin Chen still remembered clearly: the orthodox lineage behind the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art required one to cultivate the art to the stage of Fleshly Body Sanctification [the pinnacle of physical refinement] and prove one's path as a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme title for an emperor who rules over Chaos] merely to qualify as a direct disciple at their gate.

"From what I know, the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain of old once prepared to ascend to the rank of a Middle Grade Primordial Domain."

Exquisite Jiang spoke up at the opportune moment, her tone carrying a complex weight. "If they had succeeded, the present-day Thirteen Domains of the Northern and Southern Heaven Abyss might have been unified into a single, prosperous Chaos Domain [a vast, primordial region of swirling energies and nascent worlds]. This would have allowed them to finally make contact with the world beyond."

"The world beyond?"

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, a spark of curiosity igniting within him.

Exquisite Jiang gave a slight nod and continued. "The Chaos Heaven Abyss [the boundless, formless void between stable realms] may seem endless, but it does have its limits. Have you never wondered why the forces of the Northern Abyss Six Heavenly Domains do not simply take a detour to launch their assaults?"

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen's expression grew more solemn, etched with genuine curiosity.

Seeing his reaction, Exquisite Jiang elaborated. "The Chaos [the primordial, formless state of existence] is riddled with impassable deadlands. Choosing to circumvent them is often far more perilous. Even a Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivator who has unified their being with the primordial source] could lose their way within such places, facing the very real risk of permanent demise."

"Only a Mid-Grade Chaos Domain [a stabilized region within the Chaos, powerful enough to exert influence] can suppress the wild energies of a Chaos Domain. This creates a passage, allowing even a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [an immortal whose power and perception encompass vast realities] to depart from the Thirteen Domains of the Northern and Southern Heaven Abyss and journey to more distant Chaos Domain."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. This explained why the Primordial Genesis Path Ancestor [the legendary founder of a primordial cultivation path], after leaving the Southern Abyss Seven Domains, found it so difficult to return swiftly to the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [a collective term for the myriad stable realms of the immortals].

With this thought, Eldrin Chen declared, his voice firm with resolve. "I believe that one day, I too shall step beyond this Chaos Domain. I will take you all to witness worlds of far greater breadth and wonder."

"We shall."

Exquisite Jiang smiled, taking his hand as she said, "I will await that day."

With those words, Eldrin Chen spoke no more. He used the Chaos Mist [a mystical fog that obscures spiritual senses] to conceal the auras of the group and headed towards the Golden Bull Chaos Domain.

Before they knew it, the group arrived at the periphery of the Golden Bull Chaos Domain.

When they were still one hundred Path [a unit of distance in the primordial chaos] away from the Golden Bull Chaos Domain, Eldrin Chen suddenly halted. Gazing at the domain before them, he declared, "The absolute sensory range of a Sixth Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal is thirty Path. To prevent any mishap, we cannot advance any further."

Verdant Consort pondered for a moment before speaking, "This distance is too great. If we initiate our attack from here, our target will have ample time to react."

Hearing this, everyone's brows furrowed slightly. Although with their current cultivation, they could traverse over a hundred Path in the span of ten breaths, if their opponent sensed danger and fled immediately upon realizing something was amiss, their efforts would likely be in vain.

Seeing this, Ethan Chen contemplated and suggested, "Could we use the Returning Abyss Seal to tear through the void and launch a sudden assault directly upon them?"

"Impossible,"

Exquisite Jiang shook her head and explained, "A Chaos Lair [a fortified dwelling within the primordial chaos] can suppress the fabric of space. Furthermore, this place is guarded by a Space-Disturbing Stone [a strange artifact that disrupts spatial coordinates]. Even an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos] of superior Spatial Attribute grade cannot anchor its position here."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen immediately communicated with the Spatial Sub-Pearl within him, asking, "Are you confident you can handle it?"

"A mere Space-Disturbing Stone [a stone that disrupts spatial stability] is nothing to be concerned about," the pearl replied.

The Spatial Sub-Pearl of the Returning Abyss Pearl truly lived up to its origin as a fragment born from a Chaos Supreme Treasure Embryo [the primordial form of a supreme treasure from the Chaos]. Even though its current grade was only that of a Mid-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, its efficacy far surpassed that of an ordinary Upper Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.

Receiving this affirmation from the Returning Abyss Pearl, Eldrin Chen could not help but let out a sigh of relief.

He turned his gaze to the others and declared, "I can lead you to break through to Outside the Chaos Lair. However, once we arrive, we must immediately seal off the Chaos Lair [a den or nest within the primordial Chaos]."

Exquisite Jiang pondered for a brief moment before speaking decisively. "I will take direct action. By deploying the Exquisite Immortal Pagoda to form an array, it will be sufficient to seal this expanse of void."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod of agreement. Exquisite Jiang's True Spirit Treasure [a treasure fused with and empowered by a True Spirit], the 'Exquisite Immortal Pagoda', had been refined through the Heavenly Emperor's Artifact Fusion Chapter [a supreme art for fusing treasures] using five Innate Spiritual Treasure as its foundation: the 'Supreme Lunar Sword', the 'Primal Shadow Vase', the 'Sixfold Lunar Lamp' [a conceptual artifact representing six phases of the moon], the 'Ninefold Lunar Plate' [a conceptual artifact representing nine phases of the moon], and the 'Celestial Unity Pool'.

Such a supreme treasure, once deployed to form a sealing array and combined with Exquisite Jiang's own profound cultivation base, would be capable of trapping even a Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal for a significant period of time.

Seeing that the plan was settled, Eldrin Chen laid out the assignments. "In that case, Exquisite Jiang will be responsible for sealing the void. Lila and Violet Consort Yan will provide support and guard our flanks. I will confront the Golden-Back Savage Bull King. The rest of you handle the other adversaries."

"Agreed," they replied in unison.

Hearing this, none of the others voiced any objections. After all, within the Golden-Back Savage Bull clan, aside from the Golden-Back Savage Bull King, there were only two combatants at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage level. In their view, such strength was hardly a cause for concern.

Seeing the consensus, Eldrin Chen rose to his feet and declared, "Since it is decided, let us act."

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen instantly activated the Returning Abyss Pearl. In the blink of an eye, the treasure pierced through the void, transporting the entire group right to the outskirts of the Chaos Golden Bull Nest.

"Now!"

Exquisite Jiang was the first to strike. With a fluid, almost effortless motion, she summoned the Exquisite Immortal Pagoda, which instantly split into five magnificent treasures that sealed off the Chaos Lair.

The rest of the group followed suit without hesitation, each unleashing their most devastating attack with full force.

A thunderous explosion echoed. The Formation [a structured array of energy used for defense or attack] protecting the Chaos Golden Bull Nest had not even fully activated before it was catastrophically struck. The entire defensive array was shattered, more than half of its structure torn asunder.

"Success!"

Watching the Formation collapse, Eldrin Chen let out a sigh of relief.