Chapter 1934 : A Sovereign Path-Field Bestowed

"Take it back with us."

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before speaking. "The Chaos Heavenly Domain is enveloped by our seven Immortal Domain. By placing this Chaos Lair within that embrace, no other Great Encompassing Golden Immortal could possibly infiltrate it to spy without our detection."

With Eldrin Chen's decisive word, the matter was settled.

Thereafter, the group began the monumental task of transporting the Chaos Golden Bull Nest back towards the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain.

A mid-grade Great Encompassing Chaos Lair is a vast and ponderous thing. Even with the profound cultivation of Eldrin Chen and his companions, moving it swiftly through the Chaos was a near-impossible feat.

Fortunately, a full ten Great Encompassing Golden Immortal joined forces. After a labor spanning a million years, they finally managed to shift it silently into the heart of the Seven Great Immortal Domains.

Only after the Chaos Lair was fully integrated into the Returning Abyss Heavenly Domain did Eldrin Chen turn a satisfied gaze upon Ao Hong. "Ao Hong," he declared, "henceforth, this Chaos Golden Bull Nest shall be your personal cultivation Path-Field [a cultivator's designated territory for practice and seclusion], and its guardianship is entrusted to you."

Ao Hong's face lit up with joyous surprise. As a newly ascended Chaos Demon God, he had yet to claim a Great Encompassing Path-Field of his own, having resided and cultivated within the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain all these years.

With this Chaos Golden Bull Nest, he would finally possess his own sovereign Great Encompassing Path-Field, while also alleviating the strain on the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain's spiritual resources.

Thinking this, Ao Hong could not help but bow deeply. "This humble one offers his deepest gratitude for your generous gift, Master."

"Then, the Innate Spiritual Root and the Immortality Adamantine Vein here shall be entrusted to your care."

Eldrin Chen waved his hand dismissively. He extracted the accumulated Primordial Unity Adamantine and Great Encompassing Adamantine from the ore vein and began to tally the spoils.

After a thorough inventory, everyone was inwardly startled, their expressions growing increasingly delighted.

This Chaos Golden Bull Nest truly lived up to its reputation as a top-tier mid-grade Great Encompassing Chaos Lair. The depth of its accumulated resources was genuinely astonishing.

The value of the materials they had seized was staggering, with an overall worth starting at several dozen strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light.

Eldrin Chen made a quick count. He discovered a total of seventeen strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light, ten Innate Spiritual Treasure, twelve Indestructibility Golden Fruit, along with four portions of Innate Heavenly God Object and thirty portions of Great Encompassing Adamantine.

The value of these seventeen strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light needed no elaboration. Eldrin Chen collected them all, intending to save them for his future breakthrough to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage.

According to Eldrin Chen's own estimation, for all three of his Three Great Foundations to break through to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage, and calculating ten strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light per foundational pillar, he would need to consume thirty strands in total.

Adding to that, the advancement of the Returning Abyss Seal would also require a full eighteen strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light. Therefore, this current amount was clearly insufficient.

Fortunately, after Verdant Consort's breakthrough to the Great Encompassing realm, she had given Eldrin Chen eighteen strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light. Combined with the two strands he had left previously, Eldrin Chen now possessed twenty strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light in total.

Thus, in total, Eldrin Chen now possessed thirty-seven strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a pure, unbreakable spiritual radiance], leaving the number he still needed not too great.

Of course, Eldrin Chen could also use Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Divine Spark [a divine spark of indestructibility born from primordial chaos] to make up the difference. However, as his cultivation deepened, Eldrin Chen had also come to understand certain inherent limitations of the Primordial Chaos Scripture.

Although the Primordial Chaos Scripture could condense Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Divine Spark, there was, by the subtle workings of fate, a finite number it could produce.

Before his breakthrough to the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm, Eldrin Chen could condense at most a little over three thousand strands of Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Divine Spark. As for Innate Primordial Chaos Source Essence [the foundational essence of innate primordial chaos], he could only condense thirty-six strands.

Furthermore, after his cultivation ascended to the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm, the number of Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Divine Spark and Primordial Chaos Source Essence he could condense would increase severalfold. He could even begin to condense Primordial Chaos Genesis Essence [the essence of creation from primordial chaos], yet even this would have its limits.

At the very least, before Eldrin Chen's cultivation broke through to the Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme title for a ruler of chaos] realm, he could condense no more than nine strands of Primordial Chaos Genesis Essence.

Therefore, before reaching the Chaos Heavenly Emperor realm, Eldrin Chen would be unable to amass an excessive number of Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Divine Spark. Considering he would later need to use these sparks to transform them into Innate Primordial Chaos Source Essence, he had to be somewhat frugal in their use.

Returning to the matter at hand, after storing away the Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light, Eldrin Chen examined the ten Innate Spiritual Treasure [treasures born from the innate laws of heaven and earth], the seven Chaos Demon God Corpse [remnants of demon gods from the primordial chaos], and the several portions of Innate Heavenly God Object [objects left behind by innate heavenly deities] now in his possession.

Among these ten Innate Spiritual Treasure, six were of Lower Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure quality, three were Mid-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, and one was an Upper Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.

The Lower Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure were unremarkable. The three Mid-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure consisted of one Heavenly Blade [a blade imbued with celestial power], one Immortality Golden Shield [a shield said to grant its wielder longevity], and one suit of Gilded Battle Armor [armor plated with mystical gold].

The sole Upper Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure born from the primordial chaos], however, was the 'Golden Divine Spear' [a divine golden spear] obtained from the Golden-Back Savage Bull King [a powerful demonic beast king with a golden back].

From Eldrin Chen's discerning perspective, these Innate Spiritual Treasure [treasures born from primordial chaos] were potent but not perfectly crafted. He thus spoke, "The crafting methods for these ten Innate Spiritual Treasure are crude. In a few days, I shall melt them down to forge several sets of Immortality Divine Armor [divine armor imbued with the power of immortality]."

Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.

Most of these Innate Spiritual Treasure belonging to the Chaos Demon God [primordial demon gods of chaos] were forged from Innate [primordial] Great Encompassing Adamantine [a supreme primordial metal]. If refined into Immortality [the state of immortality] Great Encompassing Divine Armor [divine armor of the Great Encompassing realm], they would possess extraordinary physical defense.

When combined with their physical bodies, this would undoubtedly greatly enhance their ability to preserve their lives.

After all, the various Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [Golden Immortals of the Great Encompassing realm] of the Chen Immortal Clan had all, at minimum, achieved the Indestructibility Body [a body of indestructible durability]. While cultivating the Path of Path Mastery [the supreme cultivation art], they also concurrently trained their Great Encompassing Physique [a physique aligned with the Great Encompassing realm].

If further equipped with Great Encompassing Divine Armor, their combat prowess would certainly be elevated to a new level.

Seeing they had no objections, Eldrin Chen continued, "From the seven Chaos Demon God Flesh and Blood [the flesh and blood essence of Chaos Demon Gods], with my alchemical skill, I can likely refine approximately thirty Great Encompassing Immortal Pill [immortal pills of the Great Encompassing realm]. Each of you may claim three at that time."

"If you wish to acquire other treasures, you may exchange for them later using Merits [a metaphysical currency representing virtuous deeds and accumulated karma]."

With these words, Eldrin Chen saw the others off, retaining only his Dao companions such as Verdant Consort and Exquisite Jiang.

As the others departed, Eldrin Chen divided the twelve Immortality Golden Fruits into four portions. He then gave three of these shares to Nyssa Qu, Verdant Consort, and Exquisite Jiang.

Violet Consort Yan and Lila did not receive a share. Eldrin Chen could only explain, "Our resources are currently limited. I must concentrate what we have on strengthening my most capable companions first."

"Once the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth [a legendary vessel capable of nurturing spiritual roots] ascends to the rank of a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [the pinnacle grade of treasures born from the world's primal essence] and can accelerate the growth of Innate Spiritual Root [a plant of immense spiritual power born from the world's foundation], you will not lack for these Immortality Golden Fruits either."

The two women understood perfectly. Violet Consort Yan smiled and said, "Do not trouble yourself over it, husband. With sufficient Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill [a supreme elixir refined through ten cycles of heavenly fire] and the foundation of a Great Encompassing Golden Core [a perfected golden core stage of cultivation], our Great Encompassing Physique [a legendary body constitution aligned with the cosmic principles] will not face significant resource scarcity before we reach the Great Encompassing Fourth Realm."

Eldrin Chen nodded upon hearing this, a faint smile touching his lips.

He said no more on the matter, simply rising to his feet. "I must enter seclusion to refine pills and artifacts. You are welcome to accompany me if you wish."

"Very well. We shall assist you," they replied.

As the women spoke, a shared warmth and understanding shone in their eyes.

With that, Eldrin Chen returned to the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain and began the work of refining the Great Encompassing Immortal Pill [an immortal-grade pill of profound, all-encompassing power].

Given Eldrin Chen's current mastery of the alchemical arts, concocting the Great Encompassing Immortal Pill had become considerably less arduous. With the aid of his five companions, the process demanded even less of his focus and effort.

He first separated the precious materials from these Golden-Back Savage Bull—their Great Encompassing Divine Bone, God-Demon Heart, Demon God Essence Blood, and hides—before taking their flesh and blood to begin refining the Great Encompassing Immortal Pill [a supreme-grade cultivation elixir that nourishes the body and soul of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal].

After roughly one million years, they had completed seven batches of alchemy, yielding a total of thirty-three Great Encompassing Immortal Pill [supreme-grade cultivation elixirs].

This was three more pills than anticipated, leaving Eldrin Chen quite satisfied.

Furthermore, likely due to the more abundant vitality within the flesh of these Chaos Fiend [primordial demonic beings born from chaos], the potency of the refined Great Encompassing Immortal Pill seemed slightly more refined.

Regarding these Great Encompassing Immortal Pill, Eldrin Chen distributed three to each person, including his Reincarnation Body [a powerful avatar created through a profound reincarnation technique], and kept the remaining six for himself.

However, Eldrin Chen did not consume them immediately. Strictly speaking, the Great Encompassing Immortal Pill was a cultivation resource for the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm], and one could only safely ingest three per Kalpa Tribulation [a grand cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth]. Unless he resolved to initiate the next Chaos War [a cataclysmic conflict that reshapes the primordial chaos], Eldrin Chen saw no need to rush their consumption.

With the Great Encompassing Immortal Pill refined, Eldrin Chen then processed the Divine Fiend blood and God-Demon Heart to concoct seven batches of the Demon God Heartblood Pill.

The Demon God Heartblood Pill contained the Chaos Demon God Heartblood Essence [the concentrated lifeblood essence of a Chaos Demon God], making it a potent tonic even for Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [supreme immortals of the Great Encompassing realm]. It could aid a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal who had fallen and returned in their recovery [the process of regaining lost cultivation], or help one whose power had declined from using a Forbidden Divine Ability [a supremely powerful technique with severe backlash] to recover their strength.

Furthermore, for those cultivating a Great Encompassing Physique [a legendary body constitution capable of containing boundless power], consuming this pill could slightly increase their chances of a breakthrough to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage.

However, only one pill could be refined per batch, and its efficacy depended on the grade of the Chaos Fiend used. Typically, it could increase the odds of breaking through to the mid-stage of Great Encompassing [the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] by approximately ten to thirty percent.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, these seven Demon God Heartblood Pills [pills refined from the core essence of powerful demon gods] could increase the odds of success by one-tenth for the four lower-grade ones and two-tenths for the three middle-grade ones.

In particular, the one refined from the God-Demon Heart [the crystallized core of a powerful demon] of the Golden-Back Savage Bull King possessed nearly thirty percent efficacy and should fetch a considerable price—likely worth at least four or five strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a primal spiritual light embodying the concept of unbreakable durability].

"Selling these seven Demon God Heartblood Pills should yield a handsome sum," he mused.

As these thoughts flickered through his mind, Eldrin Chen recalled Snow Soul Imperial Lord and turned to Nyssa Qu. "Fellow Daoist Snow Soul's cultivation has not yet fully recovered [to its peak state]. I suspect this item could be of some use to her."

"You could inquire with Seven-Colored Immortal Lord whether she or her sister desires these Demon God Heartblood Pills."

Nyssa Qu nodded in agreement, a smile gracing her lips. "In a few days' time, I shall make a trip to the Seven-Colored Immortal Domain."

Eldrin Chen offered a light chuckle before continuing, "There is no need for haste. First, I must reforge [melt down and reshape through profound art] those Innate Spiritual Treasures [treasures born from the primal chaos of heaven and earth]."

With these words, Eldrin Chen entered the depths of the Returning Abyss Forbidden Land. He retrieved a considerable amount of Great Encompassing Adamantine [a legendary, nearly indestructible metal], along with seven sets of Chaos Fiend Bones [the skeletal remains of primordial chaos fiends] and the Innate Spiritual Treasures.

He then brought forth the Creation Cauldron [a legendary cauldron capable of forging and refining primal treasures]. Gazing at it, he posed a question: "I intend to use these materials to reforge these Innate Spiritual Treasures into Great Encompassing Divine Armor [divine armor of immense protective power]. Might you lend me your aid in this endeavor?"

"Great Encompassing Adamantine, Chaos Fiend Bones, Innate Spiritual Treasures…" he listed, surveying the materials before him.

After examining them for a moment, the Creation Cauldron finally spoke: "These are all Rare Spiritual Wonders of the Immortality Adamantine attribute. I can indeed assist in their reforge into new forms."

"However, to imbue them with greater power, you will need to personally undertake the final refinement."

Seeing that the Creation Cauldron was capable of this task, Eldrin Chen felt a surge of joy in his heart.

To melt down an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the resonance of the Great Path] and recast it was a perilous endeavor. Even with Eldrin Chen's mastery of the Artifact Forging Art, there was a significant risk of damaging the spiritual essence of such treasures.

After all, altering the form of an Innate Spiritual Treasure was akin to performing Foundation Reforging [a profound process of reforging one's cultivation foundation] for an Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal. It was not a feat for the ordinary; the slightest misstep could lead to irreparable damage to its fundamental nature.

Only the Creation Cauldron possessed the profound mystery of Creation [the power to create and shape all things], capable of perfectly reforge any foundation without flaw.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen immediately said, "I must trouble you for your assistance, Fellow Daoist."

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen promptly placed a Lower Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure into the cauldron.

The Creation Cauldron instantly trembled with intense light, erupting with a torrent of Creation Energy [the primordial energy of creation and transformation] that poured into the Lower Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, beginning to dissolve its original form.

An Innate Spiritual Treasure is born from the resonance of the Great Path [the fundamental laws of the cosmos]; it is a vessel of the Path itself. From the moment it takes shape, its form becomes exceedingly difficult to alter.

Fortunately, the Creation Cauldron [a legendary cauldron capable of forging supreme treasures] lived up to its origin as a fragment of a Chaos Spiritual Artifact [a primordial artifact born from the chaos at the dawn of creation]. It truly possessed the ability to perfectly reforge [to melt down and recraft] an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born with the world, containing its own innate laws].

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen swiftly retrieved a piece of Great Encompassing Adamantine [an incredibly durable, nigh-indestructible metal] and fused it into the mix. He then began channeling his spiritual power, inscribing the profound patterns of the Chaos Limitless Great Path [the Great Path of Limitless Chaos, a supreme defensive art] onto the reforging material.

Eldrin Chen's Chaos Limitless Great Path was one of the most formidable Great Path [supreme cultivation arts and principles] in existence. It granted astonishing resistance to all forms of exotic energy, its defensive prowess against magical attacks rivaling even that of the legendary Mana Immunity [an ability granting near-total immunity to magical energy].

As for its physical resilience, it was on par with the legendary Immortality Adamantine [a mythical metal said to be unbreakable and eternal].

By inscribing this art onto the reforge Great Encompassing Divine Armor [the Divine Armor of the Great Encompassing], Eldrin aimed to elevate the armor's capabilities and, crucially, to compensate for the Immortality Adamantine's relative weakness against magical assaults.

Alas, during the forging process, Eldrin Chen discovered a limitation. The Innate Path Patterns [the innate, natural laws etched into a treasure at its birth] within the Great Encompassing Divine Armor were insufficient to accommodate the complete, intricate tapestry of the Chaos Limitless Great Path.

After all, it was merely a Lower Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [the lowest tier of treasures born with innate laws]. Eldrin Chen could not demand the impossible.

Thus, he scaled back his ambitions. He focused solely on inscribing the path patterns related to magical resistance. Yet, even this reduced scope proved challenging, and the foundational patterns of the treasure still fell short.

In the end, Eldrin Chen could only etch a rudimentary framework, a mere embryonic form of the Chaos Limitless Great Path. It retained a fraction of the Mana Immunity's effect, capable of nullifying roughly seven-tenths of the magical attacks from an opponent at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Early Stage [the initial stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].

However, should the foe's cultivation reach the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm], the armor's defensive efficacy would diminish, reducing the nullification to only half of the incoming magical power.

If the opponent's strength reaches the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the late stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm], the effectiveness of Mana Immunity [a defensive ability that nullifies a portion of magical energy attacks] would be reduced to a mere thirty percent, and there would even be a risk of the defense being completely shattered.

Nevertheless, the Great Encompassing Divine Armor [a legendary set of armor forged from divine materials] does not consume any mana [the internal energy used to fuel spells and techniques]; it essentially provides an additional, completely independent layer of protection.

Even the weakest Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Early Stage [an immortal at the initial stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm], bolstered by this extra defense from the Great Encompassing Divine Armor, would likely not be slain in a single blow, even when facing a Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [an immortal at the seventh layer of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].

Furthermore, this Great Encompassing Divine Armor also provides exceptionally high physical resistance. It can significantly mitigate the physical attacks of early and mid-stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [immortals of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm], and can even nullify a full ninety percent of the physical force from an Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Early Stage opponent's strikes.

Such effects could indeed be described as quite Extraordinary.

"A Lower Grade Great Encompassing Divine Armor [the lowest quality tier of the Great Encompassing Divine Armor] is still far too ordinary in its effects," Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, his tone carrying a hint of disdain.

He found it rather unimpressive, for the defensive power of this particular set of Great Encompassing Divine Armor fell far short of the resilience of his own physical body, which had been tempered through countless trials.

Undeterred, he began forging a second set of Great Encompassing Divine Armor. This time, as he worked the divine materials, he incorporated the skeletal remains of a Golden-Back Savage Bull [a powerful, bull-like demonic beast known for its metallic hide and immense strength].

The bones of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Early Stage demon beast proved to be extraordinary indeed.

Eldrin Chen observed that by fusing these remains into the armor's matrix, he could inscribe a greater number of Innate Path Patterns [the fundamental, natural patterns of power that define supernatural abilities]. The resulting Mana Immunity effect was enhanced by over thirty percent compared to the previous version.