Chapter 1981 : The Three Pillars of Great Perfection

After his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivation base achieved its breakthrough, Eldrin Chen spent over a million years consolidating his foundation. Only when he felt his foundation was utterly solid did he commence the breakthrough for his physical body cultivation.

With the aid of the Primordial Chaos Immortal Pill [a supreme pill refined from the essence of primordial chaos], breaking through to the Seventh Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal [the seventh stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm] for his Great Luo Body [a supreme physical cultivation method] presented no significant obstacle.

Upon consuming the Primordial Chaos Immortal Pill, Eldrin Chen's Chaos Indestructible Physique [a legendary constitution born from chaos, granting near-immortality] immediately began an ultimate transformation. It swiftly shattered the bottleneck of the Seventh Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal.

After breaching the bottleneck, Eldrin Chen first fused thirty strands of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a primordial spiritual radiance that fortifies the foundation of one's being]. He then consumed various cultivation resources to replenish his depleted reserves, finally completing the breakthrough for his Great Luo Body.

Thus, all three of Eldrin Chen's foundational pillars had broken through to the Late Great Luo Golden Immortal [the latter stages of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm], allowing him to step into the high-tier realm of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Immortal path].

"Is this the power of having all three foundational pillars reach Great Perfection?"

After completing his breakthrough, Eldrin Chen closed his eyes to sense the power surging within him, a faint smile gracing his lips.

His three primary cultivation foundations had all ascended to the Seventh Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal. Moreover, the combat prowess of any single foundation was sufficient to rival a Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection [a cultivator who has perfected the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm].

The power born from the convergence of these three supreme foundations was not a simple sum of their parts. Instead, it had undergone an indescribable qualitative transformation, a metamorphosis beyond mere addition.

The power of his Primordial Spirit, physical body, and Great Dao, unified and amplified by his Root Origin Treasure [a treasure connected to a cultivator's very origin and foundation], seemed to have transcended a certain limit. It had completed a transformation so profound it defied description.

This was a qualitative chasm, a transcendence beyond the realm of Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection.

"With the power of my three foundational pillars alone, I have already brushed against the threshold of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm, have I not?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a flicker of a smile touching the depths of his gaze.

Setting aside the Path of Self-Sacrifice, his own innate power alone could rival a newly ascended Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch. Such profound depth and combat prowess rendered him virtually unassailable.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen flicked his sleeve once more, summoning the Path of Self-Sacrifice to envelop his being.

In that instant, boundless Dao Authority [the authority to command and shape the fundamental principles of reality] converged upon Eldrin Chen, amplifying his battle strength by nearly twofold.

"This power..."

Eldrin Chen whispered, a sharp, brilliant light igniting within his pupils.

By Eldrin Chen's own estimation, with both the Path of Self-Sacrifice and this authority empowering him, his strength should now approach that of the Third Layer of Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord realm.

Of course, at such exalted levels, the gulf between each successive realm grew ever more vast and profound.

Those capable of breaking through to the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm have almost all cultivated more than three Indestructible Foundation. Furthermore, those who have transcended the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm possess the ability to re-cultivate their Indestructible Foundation from the beginning.

For those who can break through to the Third Layer of Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord, while one cannot claim they will certainly achieve a True Spirit Foundation, the likelihood of them cultivating a fourth or even a fifth Indestructible Foundation is exceedingly high.

Setting aside the Path of Self-Sacrifice, while Eldrin Chen's Sevenfold True Spirit Foundation is formidable, the number of cultivation layers it can truly bridge is ultimately limited.

Therefore, in terms of raw spiritual power and foundational depth, Eldrin Chen's strength among Third Layer of Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord cultivators would likely rank at the very bottom, merely equivalent to a Third Layer of Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord cultivator with three Indestructible Foundation.

Of course, possessing combat power at this level, augmented by his various divine abilities and the Abyssal Seal, he should still possess the capability to contend with a genuine Third Layer of Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord opponent.

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen allowed a faint smile to touch his lips as he withdrew his focus from introspection and emerged from his secluded cultivation chamber.

Upon exiting, he found Lyra Jiang had been waiting for him for some time. Without a word, he drew her into his embrace and they retreated into the depths of his cave abode for secluded cultivation together.

After a period of tender dual cultivation, Eldrin Chen felt his spirit refreshed and his vitality soaring. He smiled and remarked, "With this breakthrough, even a mid-stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch would find it exceedingly difficult to capture or restrain me."

Lyra Jiang nodded in agreement, yet a trace of concern lingered in her eyes. "Now that you have broken through to Late Great Luo Golden Immortal," she inquired, "have you given thought to how you will secure the cultivation resources needed for your future advancement?"

Hearing her words, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, a contemplative shadow passing over his features.

Within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, beings above the Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Immortal path] are exceedingly rare. The fundamental reason is that after breaking through to the Seventh Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal [the seventh of nine layers within the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm], ordinary resources hold little to no benefit for further advancement.

To ascend beyond the Eighth Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal [the eighth layer], one must first confront two formidable obstacles.

The first is the necessity of possessing sufficient latent potential. For instance, Eldrin Chen's Great Dao [the fundamental law he embodies], his physical body, and his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] are all founded upon the True Spirit Foundation [a supreme-grade foundation for cultivation]. This means all three of his core foundations can continue to be cultivated beyond the Seventh Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal.

In contrast, an ordinary Grand Luo Golden Immortal who has merely cultivated a Nine-Limit Foundation can, at most, hope to break through to the Mid Great Luo Golden Immortal [the middle stage]. Even one with a Ten Limits Foundation [a foundation pushed to its absolute theoretical limit] can only cultivate to the realm of Seventh Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Only by achieving an Indestructible Foundation [a mythical, unbreakable foundation that transcends limits] can one continue to cultivate to higher, more profound realms.

This is because foundations beneath the Indestructible Foundation are not powerful enough; their latent potential and inherent reserves are insufficient to support a breakthrough to loftier heights. They can only reach the Late Great Luo Golden Immortal [the late stage] before progress becomes virtually impossible.

The so-called Indestructible Foundation not only represents the potential to break through to the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a sovereign realm born from primordial chaos], but is also intrinsically linked to the possibility of attaining Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the flawless completion of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm].

Therefore, those capable of breaking through to Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection must have cultivated at least one Indestructible Foundation. Only then do they possess a sliver of hope to ascend to the state of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch.

Since Eldrin Chen's seven core foundations are all True Spirit Foundation, this first obstacle naturally poses no difficulty for him. The second problem, however, is a different matter entirely.

For an existence that has broken through to the Seventh Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal, their foundation and reserves have grown immensely powerful, even surpassing the limits accessible to ordinary Grand Luo Golden Immortal. Consequently, taking a single step further demands the consumption of even rarer and more precious resources.

As for the cultivation of the Great Dao [the supreme, fundamental principle of the cosmos], the matter is somewhat simpler. Apart from the consumption of Great Dao Source Crystal [a crystalized essence of the fundamental Dao] required when breaking through bottlenecks, it primarily relies on one's own comprehension and enlightenment.

However, after the physical body and the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] break through to the Seventh Layer Great Luo Golden Immortal [the seventh layer of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm], advancing even a single step further becomes extraordinarily arduous.

Ordinary Great Luo Immortal Pill [pills for Great Luo Golden Immortals], Innate Spiritual Root [roots born of primordial chaos], or Indestructible Golden Fruit [a fruit of legendary resilience]—none hold significant efficacy for a Late Great Luo Golden Immortal [a Golden Immortal in the late stages of the Great Luo realm].

To enable a Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a Golden Immortal of the Great Luo realm] to continue their breakthroughs, only treasures of immense rarity will suffice: either priceless Innate Spiritual Herb [herbs born of primordial chaos], or the immortal fruits borne from Supreme-Grade Primordial Spiritual Roots [roots of the highest primordial grade].

Yet, regardless of which, each is an exception among exceptions, a treasure beyond compare.

A single specimen of the former starts at a price of several strands of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [an indestructible light born of primordial chaos]. The latter is dozens of times more precious than even a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure born of chaos], something only those at least at the mid-stage of Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [the Emperor Monarch realm of Primordial Chaos] are qualified to wield.

Consider this: these are but the ordinary cultivation resources consumed as sustenance. The resources needed to cultivate through a single minor realm begin at over one hundred such specimens. How could an ordinary Late Great Luo Golden Immortal possibly afford such a cost?

Therefore, within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad realms of immortals], the vast majority of Grand Luo Golden Immortal who walk the path of Sainthood through the Flesh [attaining sainthood through physical cultivation] or Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment [attaining the Dao through the Primordial Spirit] find their progress slows to a crawl after stepping into the Late Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.

Unless one has a backer at the Primordial Unity Emperor Lord Level [the level of a Primordial Unity Emperor Lord], it is commonplace to remain stagnant at the Late Great Luo Golden Immortal stage for tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of destruction and renewal].

Even for Eldrin Chen, without the corresponding resources and relying solely on bitter cultivation, it would likely take over ten thousand Kalpa Tribulation to break through to Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the Great Perfection stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm].

"Further preparations are still required for the cultivation resources needed for the physical Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing their highest form of spiritual existence]."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly before speaking aloud: "The resources required for Primordial Spirit cultivation demand Soul-Nourishing Wood [a rare spiritual wood that nourishes and strengthens the soul] of the Innate Spiritual Root [a supreme-grade spiritual root of heaven-defying quality] grade. Alternatively, one could have the Heavenly Soul Fruit Tree [a legendary tree bearing fruit that can elevate the soul's fundamental nature] undergo Ascension [a profound breakthrough to a higher state of being] into a Supreme-Grade Primordial Spiritual Root [the pinnacle grade of spiritual roots, containing primordial essence]."

"For the cultivation of the physical body, one also needs Great Luo Golden Bamboo Shoot [a precious shoot of bamboo imbued with Great Luo golden essence, vital for body refinement] of the Innate Spiritual Root grade. Or, one could have that Indestructible Golden Fruit Tree [a tree bearing fruit that grants an indestructible golden body] undergo Ascension into a Supreme-Grade Primordial Spiritual Root. Whichever path is chosen, it will consume a vast quantity of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a rare, innate spiritual light that grants indestructibility and is essential for supreme cultivation breakthroughs]."

"Most crucially, one also requires Primordial Essence [the pure, foundational energy of creation, used to shatter fundamental limitations] to break the shackles."

Upon hearing this, Lyra Jiang could not help but furrow her brow slightly.

She performed a quick calculation with her fingers and discovered that Eldrin Chen's two foundational pillars were far too potent. For him to break through to Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the ultimate stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm], if relying solely on low-grade Innate Spiritual Root, the amount of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light required would be at least over one thousand strands.

If one factored in the future cultivation needs of the many Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a powerful immortal realm, a step below the ultimate sainthood] cultivators within the Chen Immortal Clan, the expenditure of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light would be enough to inspire genuine dread.

What proved most troublesome was that this also demanded a massive consumption of Primordial Essence to break the shackles.

"The resource consumption for Sainthood through the Flesh [the path of achieving sainthood via the ultimate cultivation of the physical body] and Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment [the realm of attaining the Dao through the ultimate refinement of the Primordial Spirit] is truly staggering,"

Lyra Jiang murmured, a trace of helplessness coloring her expression.

No wonder cultivating three paths simultaneously bestows such formidable combat prowess, yet even within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad immortal worlds], few Grand Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of immortal cultivation] choose to walk this arduous road.

This is not only because the path of threefold cultivation is exceedingly difficult, but more critically, the resources it consumes are utterly staggering.

Unless one has reached a point where further advancement is impossible, why not use those finite resources to break through to a higher realm instead?

Contemplating this, Lyra Jiang fell into a brief, thoughtful silence before finally asking, "If the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase [a legendary vessel capable of refining the primordial energies of heaven and earth] were to Ascension [undergo a qualitative evolution] into a twenty-four pattern Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [the highest grade of treasures born from the world's essence], would you have confidence in using it to shatter the shackles of the Innate Spiritual Root [the ultimate spiritual foundation attainable in the mortal realm]?"

"I fear not."

Eldrin Chen shook his head and explained, "The Innate Spiritual Root is the ultimate entity of the Mortal Realm [the foundational plane of existence]. Even if the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase were to advance further, it could at most increase the probability of breaking those shackles by half a measure."

"Unless... it could take one more step, reaching the realm of an Innate Supreme Treasure Embryo [a nascent form of a supreme treasure born from the world's primal essence]."

As these words hung in the air, the two exchanged a glance, a faint, determined light kindling in their eyes.

A moment later, Lyra Jiang spoke with resolve, "If that is the case, then let us attempt it."

"Agreed."

Eldrin Chen gave a solemn nod. Without delay, he led Lyra Jiang to the Abyssal Forbidden Land. There, he retrieved the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase and the Creation Cauldron, and began the process of Ascension [the act of elevating a treasure's grade and power] for this cherished artifact that had accompanied him for so many years, harnessing the profound power of the Creation Cauldron.

Having broken through to the Late Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, Eldrin Chen now possessed the capability to transform Primordial Chaos Source Qi [the most fundamental and potent source energy of creation]. The conversion of a single strand of Primordial Chaos Source Qi required the consumption of thirty-six strands of Primordial Indestructible Spiritual Light [a luminous, foundational energy of immense durability].

The Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase was a Twelve-Rune Supreme-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. It required only the further infusion of twelve more strands of Primordial Indestructible Spiritual Light to synthesize them into a single strand of Primordial Chaos Source Qi.

Now, as Eldrin Chen continuously channeled the energy into it, the aura emanating from the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase grew increasingly formidable.

After the successive infusion of twelve strands of Primordial Indestructible Spiritual Light, the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase's might surged, doubling in power as it transformed into a twenty-four-rune Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.

Following its Ascension, the profound and wondrous nature of the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase became even more astonishing. Yet, Eldrin Chen suppressed his excitement and continued the refining process.

He persisted until another twelve strands of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a luminous, foundational energy of immense durability] were fully refined. Finally, within the depths of the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase, thirty-six Great Dao Divine Patterns [inscribed patterns containing profound laws of the Great Dao] manifested and coalesced.

"*Huummm—*"

With a resonant hum, the Heaven-Earth Primordial Qi Vase erupted with a torrent of divine radiance. The thirty-six Primordial Chaos Dao Patterns fused as one, transforming into a single, violet-gold chain of light—a Great Dao Divine Chain [a solidified manifestation of supreme cosmic law].

"A First-Grade Innate Supreme Treasure Embryo [the nascent, highest-grade form of a treasure born from the primal chaos]."

Eldrin Chen spoke, a faint smile gracing his lips.

At this moment, Creation Cauldron was also somewhat astonished and could not help but sigh with emotion, saying, "A supreme treasure condensed from the Heaven-Earth Great Dao [the supreme principle governing Heaven and Earth]. It bears great resemblance to my other half, yet there are also significant differences between them."

"If this treasure were to Ascension [undergo a qualitative evolution to a higher grade] into a peak-grade Innate Supreme Treasure [a supreme treasure born from the primordial chaos], it might very well obtain one of the authorities of the Heaven-Earth Great Dao."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered slightly, a look of inquiry surfacing in his eyes.

Seeing this, Creation Cauldron spoke again, "Creation and the Heaven-Earth Great Dao possess an exceedingly high rank. They are akin to the Innate Five Primordial Great Daos [the five fundamental Daos born from chaos], being one of the Innate Primordial Chaos Great Dao [the supreme Daos inherent to the primordial chaos]."

"The Dao Authority [the authority and power inherent to a Great Dao] of such Daos is far beyond what ordinary Primordial Great Dao [Great Daos born in the primordial era] can match. Legend says they can give birth to twelve Chaos Spiritual Treasure [treasures of chaos imbued with spiritual nature] and seventy-two Innate Supreme Treasure."

"Similarly, this kind of Dao Authority is also extraordinary. It can split into multiple major branch Daos. Even mastering just one of these branch Daos is sufficient to prove one's path and attain the realm of a Chaos Celestial Emperor [a Celestial Emperor who has mastered a Chaos-level Dao]."

At this point, Creation Cauldron continued, "As far as I know, the Primordial Beginning Divine Emperor [the Divine Emperor of Primordial Beginning] has mastered a branch of the Primordial Beginning [the Dao of the very first beginning] Great Dao. With just that, he has already reached the perfection of the first realm of Chaos [the primordial state of undifferentiated existence], the 'Dao-Grasping Realm' [the realm of grasping and comprehending a Dao]."

"If he could cultivate another branch Dao to completion, stepping into the Dao Union Realm [the realm of union with the Dao] would be a matter of course."

Only upon hearing this did Eldrin Chen understand. Daos such as Time, Space, Qiankun [Heaven and Earth], Creation, Yin-Yang [the duality of passive and active cosmic forces], Grand Yin [the supreme passive cosmic principle], Grand Yang [the supreme active cosmic principle], the Primordial Five Ultimates [the five ultimate primordial elements], and so on, were all Boundless Great Dao [Great Daos of limitless rank and profundity] of the highest order.

Once one fully masters such a Great Dao, they may step into the Third Chaos Realm—the realm of 'Boundlessness' [the ultimate state of formless, limitless potential].

Yet, precisely because the authority of these Great Daos is so immensely powerful, it has also led to far too many cultivators pursuing them.

Consider this: the five Innate Primordial Limitless Great Dao cultivated by Eldrin Chen are each pursued as secondary paths by numerous Chaos Celestial Emperor, let alone these Chaos Limitless Great Dao that lead directly to the Chaos Realm.

Many beings of transcendent talent and soaring ambition cultivate these supreme Boundless Great Dao, which in turn causes the authority of these paramount Daos to remain perpetually fragmented, never coalescing into a single whole.

The authority of these supreme Great Daos is scattered. Among those who cultivate them, the strongest have only ever reached the Second Chaos Realm.

"In truth, across the entire Chaos, almost all Boundless Great Dao are dispersed, fragmented into countless branching paths,"

"Various Chaos Celestial Emperor each grasp a portion of the authority. It is exceedingly rare for anyone to fully master a single Boundless Great Dao at the Chaos level."

The Creation Cauldron [a primordial artifact of immense power capable of forging creation itself] spoke methodically, then said with grave emphasis, "And it is precisely for this reason that beings of the Third Chaos Realm within the Chaos are exceedingly scarce. Even when surveying the entirety of the Chaos, their number can be counted."

"The one who destroyed the Immortal Cosmos Origin Domain [the primordial source realm from which all immortal cosmos originated] in ages past was suspected to be a Chaos Sovereign of the Third Chaos Realm."

At these words, the expression of the Creation Cauldron grew subtly more solemn.

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly, a flicker of understanding finally dawning within him. In that moment, he grasped the true, staggering magnitude of the power wielded by the being who commanded the Annihilation Blade.

"Could the founder of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art stand as an equal to that one?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a tremor of awe coursing through his spirit.

Though he had cultivated for many years and earned a formidable reputation within the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss of this Chaos, an unbridgeable chasm still lay between him and beings like the founder of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art or the master of the Annihilation Blade.

They were like celestial bodies blazing in the highest heavens, while he was but a faint, insignificant ember. How could an ember hope to discern the relative brilliance of such distant, radiant suns?

"Yet even an ember may dream of touching the sky."

"One day, I too shall stand shoulder to shoulder with you."