Chapter 1952 : Fated Adversaries of the Solar Flame

"Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord who has mastered the primordial solar essence], to think it is actually you!"

The moment he saw the figure blocking his path, a chill shot through Eldrin Chen's brow, and a flicker of shock crossed his face.

The person standing before him was none other than the renowned Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord who has mastered the primordial solar essence] of the Human Race.

This Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord who has mastered the primordial solar essence] possessed a cultivation base at the Eighth Heaven of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the eighth level of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm, a pinnacle stage of cultivation]. He cultivated the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Great Path [the Great Path of the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame, a supreme cultivation method], and was considered the foremost Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme golden immortal realm] among all Primordial Solar [cultivators of the primordial solar essence] within the Human Race.

"It is I."

The Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord who has mastered the primordial solar essence] spoke calmly, his gaze resting on Eldrin Chen as he stated plainly, "The conflict between you and me stems from a clash of Great Path [supreme cultivation methods or principles]. We are, by nature, destined Fated Adversary [a rival ordained by fate]."

Eldrin Chen fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then said, "I simply did not expect you to arrive so swiftly."

"Indeed. I had not originally intended to make a move."

The Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord who has mastered the primordial solar essence] nodded, then continued, "You are merely a newly ascended Great Encompassing [cultivator of the Great Encompassing realm]. The fragment of Great Path Authority [the authority or power inherent to a Great Path] you hold from the Primordial Solar [primordial solar essence] offers me little significant enhancement."

"My original plan was to wait until your cultivation broke through to the seventh level of the Great Encompassing [Great Encompassing realm] before taking your Great Path Authority [the authority or power inherent to a Great Path] to achieve my own breakthrough into Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the Great Perfection stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm]. However, the power you have displayed is far too formidable. I have no choice but to act now and eliminate you prematurely."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's eyes turned slightly cold. The Primordial Solar Great Path [the supreme cultivation path of the primordial sun] was notoriously difficult to cultivate. Within the vast expanse of the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, those who had attained the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle of immortal cultivation] via this path were exceedingly rare. In fact, only two such beings were known to still walk the realms.

They were this very Primordial Solar Immortal Lord and the 'Primordial Solar Demon Emperor' of the Demon Race. Both possessed terrifying, awe-inspiring power and stood as Eldrin Chen's direct rivals on the same Great Path.

However, Eldrin Chen had only recently stepped into the Great Encompassing realm and had yet to fully consolidate his authority over its principles. He had assumed his rivals would not move against him so swiftly. He had not expected the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord to lose his composure and act this quickly.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an edge of frost. "If you wish to strangle me in my cradle, your current strength is far from sufficient."

As his words faded, Eldrin Chen instantly shot towards the distant Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation], seeking to put distance between himself and his pursuers.

The Primordial Solar Immortal Lord merely let out a cold sneer. He summoned a Spatial Spiritual Treasure [a treasure capable of manipulating space] to tear through the void in pursuit. His Primordial Solar Immortal Furnace [a divine furnace containing the essence of the primordial sun] shot out even faster, arriving first to bear down upon Eldrin Chen with crushing force.

Eldrin Chen channeled his power into the Returning Abyss Seal, causing it to transform into a Chaos Great Cauldron. The two supreme treasures collided with a world-shaking impact. Using the resulting shockwave to propel himself, Eldrin shot away once more.

Yet, the Primordial Era Silver Dragon and the Primal Chaos Kui Ox showed no intention of relenting. The Primordial Era Silver Spear and the Divine Thunderclap Spear pierced through the void, their tips aimed to force Eldrin Chen back into the encirclement.

Eldrin Chen expanded a shield of Chaos Unity Energy [the foundational energy of primal chaos], deftly evading the earth-shattering thrust of the Divine Thunderclap Spear. In the same motion, he manifested a Chaos Heaven Halberd and engaged the Primordial Era Silver Dragon in fierce combat. Within mere exchanges, his strikes sent the great silver dragon reeling through the void, its divine blood spraying like a crimson mist.

"Your wounds have yet to fully Recovery [heal or be restored]," Eldrin's voice echoed, cold and commanding. "And yet you dare cross blades with me?"

Eldrin Chen sent the Primordial Era Silver Dragon flying, unleashing an overwhelming divine might that forced the beast into a continuous retreat, carving a bloody path through the fray with sheer force.

Witnessing this, the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord was visibly shaken. His expression shifted slightly as he could not help but exclaim, "Your methods are formidable, sir. If you escape today, you will undoubtedly become a great calamity in the future."

As his words fell, the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord summoned an Immortal Pagoda that soared into the sky. It radiated a torrential sealing power that suppressed the void, completely locking down the entire expanse of Chaos.

In the next instant, he also manifested a Primordial Solar Immortal Sword and slashed it towards Eldrin Chen, intent on delivering a final, decisive blow.

"Hmph—"

This Primordial Solar Immortal Lord truly lived up to being a top-tier Great Encompassing Golden Immortal. Simultaneously wielding three Upper Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, he Burst forth with a peerless, epoch-defying combat prowess, surpassing even the Nine Extremes Divine Lord by a significant margin.

The Primal Chaos Kui Ox and the Primordial Era Silver Dragon also attacked without regard for cost, determined to keep Eldrin Chen trapped there permanently.

Even with Eldrin Chen's heaven-defying battle strength, facing the combined assault of three Peerless Immortal Lord and divine fiends, he ultimately found himself outnumbered and forced into a steady retreat.

"Troublesome."

Seeing that their onslaught was difficult to parry, Eldrin Chen simply ceased evading. At the cost of enduring their Slaughter strikes with his Primordial One Energy, he channeled his power to activate the Polarity Void Mirror.

In that fleeting instant, a surge of Void Primordial Magnetism Immortal Light [a divine light that manipulates the fundamental forces of void and magnetism] erupted, instantly ensnaring the Primordial Solar Immortal Sword [a divine sword forged from the essence of the primordial sun] and drawing it into the depths of the Polarity Void Mirror [a supreme mirror that can capture and nullify opposing energies].

Such was the might of a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from the world's essence, of the highest possible grade], amplified by the principle of elemental counteraction, that even Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [the Lord of the Primordial Sun] was caught off guard, his treasured weapon seized before he could react.

"How dare you!"

Watching his Lifebound Immortal Sword [a sword intimately connected to its wielder's life force and cultivation] be taken, a look of shock and fury twisted the features of Primordial Solar Immortal Lord.

He instantly activated a Forbidden Divine Ability [a supreme technique that exacts a heavy toll on the user], forcibly elevating his cultivation to the peak of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the absolute pinnacle of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm]. Then, he commanded the Primordial Solar Immortal Furnace [a divine furnace containing the fury of the first dawn] to descend, its overwhelming pressure seeking to crush Eldrin Chen from above.

The power behind this wrathful strike was such that even a Primordial One Imperial Lord [an Imperial Lord who has unified his path into a singular, supreme principle] would have frowned, let alone Eldrin Chen, who was merely at the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the seventh layer of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].

In their very first clash, Eldrin Chen was sent flying, blood spraying from his lips, sustaining significant injuries.

"Perish!"

Almost simultaneously, the Primordial Era Silver Dragon [an ancient dragon from the dawn of time, its scales like liquid moonlight] and the Primal Chaos Kui Ox [a mythical ox born from primal chaos, its roar shaking the heavens] attacked with furious intent, their unstoppable forces converging on Eldrin Chen from both sides.

The combined assault of three such supreme Great Encompassing [Great Encompassing Golden Immortal] experts was a force that could grievously wound even one at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection. To withstand it head-on carried the very real risk of utter annihilation.

"Hahaha…"

Yet, Eldrin Chen suddenly burst into roaring laughter. Before the eyes of all present, he transformed into a dazzling Immortal Radiance [a manifestation of pure, transcendent light] and vanished from this expanse of Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation].

"BOOM—"

With a deafening crash, the combined force of the three figures' attack pierced through the Vast and Boundless Chaos.

In that instant, Myriad Heavens [the countless realms of existence] were cleaved open, all worlds fell into Extinction Silence [a state of absolute cessation and stillness], and this entire region of Chaos dissolved into nothingness.

When the tumult finally subsided, Primordial Solar Immortal Lord stared at the spot where Eldrin Chen had vanished, his face darkening with a livid hue.

"What manner of technique is this, to ignore the seal of the Primordial Solar Immortal-Suppressing Pagoda [a supreme artifact designed to imprison even immortals]?"

Primal Chaos Kui Ox [a primordial beast of thunder and strength] asked, his expression grim and his tone heavy with gravity.

Primordial Era Silver Dragon [an ancient dragon of immense power] drew a deep breath before speaking. "To disregard the confinement of an Upper Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born of the world's essence, of the highest quality]… it must be a Spatial Spiritual Treasure [an artifact that manipulates space itself] of the Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [the absolute pinnacle of natural-born treasures] tier."

"Could it be that Supreme Lunar Imperial Lord [the sovereign lord of the ultimate moon], fallen for so many years, left behind a contingency of such power?"

Upon hearing this, Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord associated with the primordial sun] fell silent, his expression turning icy cold. "The opponent used a spatial-magnetism magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] to seize my Primordial Solar Immortal Sword. That artifact must be a Spatial Attribute [possessing properties related to space and dimension] Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [a top-tier magical weapon born from nature itself]."

"It seems we underestimated the methods of this Returning Abyss Path Master [a title for a master of the Returning Abyss cultivation path]."

The Primal Chaos Kui Ox [a mythical ox beast born from primordial chaos] listened and replied somberly, "If he possesses a Spatial Attribute Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, he is already in an invincible position. It appears we cannot capture him."

"Not necessarily."

At that moment, Primordial Solar Immortal Lord shook his head and spoke.

Both the Primal Chaos Kui Ox and the Primordial Era Silver Dragon [a silver dragon from the primordial era] turned their gazes towards Primordial Solar Immortal Lord, awaiting his words.

Seeing this, Primordial Solar Immortal Lord spoke coldly, "This Eldrin the Immortal Lord possesses a talent rarely seen throughout the ages, with the potential of a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign ruling over primordial chaos]. Yet, it is widely acknowledged that he has no hope of attaining the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Dao Fruit. Do you know why?"

The two were slightly taken aback upon hearing this; it was the first time they had learned of this secret.

Primordial Solar Immortal Lord continued, "Because the Chaos Limitless Great Path [the Great Path of Limitless Chaos, a supreme cultivation art] he cultivates was forged by coalescing five Great Path [supreme cultivation arts or laws]: Primordial Solar [the Primordial Sun], Profound Darkness [Profound Darkness], Mixed Metal [Mixed Metal], Source Earth [Source Earth], and Life."

"Hah."

Upon hearing this, the Primal Chaos Kui Ox suddenly burst into loud laughter. "I laugh at that That upstart Eldrin," it boomed. "For all his heaven-defying talent, he is so arrogant and foolish! He has squandered a physique worthy of an Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who rules over a heavenly domain]."

Upon hearing this, the Primordial Era Silver Dragon revealed a flicker of pity in its expression.

For an ordinary person, choosing the wrong Great Path [a fundamental law or principle of the cosmos that can be cultivated] might not matter much. After all, they never stood a real chance of attaining the Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who has mastered the primordial chaos] realm anyway, so there is little to regret.

But for one with the innate gifts and potential of Eldrin Chen, who truly possessed the makings of a Chaos Heavenly Emperor, to forsake that destiny by cultivating the Limitless Great Path [a supreme cultivation path that is boundless and immeasurable]... that is a road with no return, an insurmountable dead end that bars him forever from the Realm of Chaos [the primordial state from which all creation emerged].

"The paths of Primordial Solar [the pure, primordial essence of the sun], Profound Darkness [the deep, mysterious essence of shadow and void], Mixed Metal [the tempered essence of blended metals], Source Earth [the foundational essence of the earth], and Life—these five Great Path are all supreme, Limitless Great Path that lead to the heavens."

"If the Returning Abyss Path Master [a master of the path leading back to the primordial abyss] were to master these five Great Path, he would not only break through to the Second Chaos Realm [the second major stage within the primordial chaos] in one fell swoop but would also rank among the mightiest within that very Second Chaos Realm."

"A pity," he sighed. "Such a Limitless Great Path... without cultivation at the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Realm [the sovereign level within the primordial chaos], it is fundamentally impossible to grasp its Great Path Authority [the sovereign authority and control over a Great Path]."

The Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [an immortal lord who embodies the primordial sun] shook his head, a note of helplessness coloring his words.

Who was he to speak? Not just Eldrin Chen, but even he, the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord, saw no path to the Realm of Chaos.

Fortunately, he had never forged a True Spirit Foundation [a perfect, flawless spiritual foundation for cultivation]. Never having possessed the makings of an Heavenly Emperor in the first place, he truly had nothing to regret.

With these thoughts, he withdrew his contemplation and gazed in the direction where Eldrin Chen had departed. "These five Great Path are far too formidable," he mused. "Those who can prove their Dao through them are invariably peerless prodigies who have forged an Indestructibility Foundation [a legendary, unbreakable foundation for cultivation]."

"From what I know," he continued, "among the few in the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad immortal realms] who cultivate the other four Great Path, the lowest in cultivation is at least at the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the seventh level of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] or above. Among them, there are even those at the ninth layer of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm], or even existences at the level of Primordial One Imperial Lord [an Imperial Lord who has attained the primordial unity of the Dao]."

"I suspect that among these individuals, the Primordial One Imperial Lord might not personally intervene. However, those Great Encompassing Golden Immortal will certainly not tolerate the growth of Returning Abyss Path Master [the Daoist title of Eldrin Chen], a common enemy to them all."

Hearing this, the Primal Chaos Kui Ox [a primordial divine beast resembling a one-legged ox] could not help but feel a flicker of delight.

For a Primordial One Imperial Lord, the Great Path Authority [the authority and power over a specific Great Path of the Dao] of a mere Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage [mid-stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal] is of little use. It would require at least a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [Great Encompassing Golden Immortal at the peak of perfection] for it to have some slight effect. To truly achieve a breakthrough in cultivation, one would need to slay a Great Path Rival [a fated rival who walks the same Great Path] of the same level.

Therefore, Primordial One Imperial Lord prefer to let lower-tier Great Encompassing Golden Immortal grow freely. Only when their cultivation reaches a certain threshold would they consider striking to seize their authority.

Furthermore, Eldrin Chen has the attention of several Divine Sovereign [supreme beings who have merged with a Heavenly Dao] and Path Ancestor Immortal Sage [the ultimate ancestors who have mastered a complete Great Path] behind him. It is unlikely they would tolerate others bullying the weak. Thus, it is improbable these Primordial One Imperial Lord would intervene directly. However, those Great Encompassing Golden Immortal will most likely be unable to resist taking action.

After all, in conflicts between fellow Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, it is beneath the dignity of a Path Ancestor Immortal Sage to blatantly take sides.

He pondered for a moment before speaking. "If we could join forces with those individuals and also borrow a top-grade Spatial Spiritual Treasure [a supreme treasure capable of manipulating space] and a Formation Artifact [a specialized artifact for setting up powerful formations], there truly would be an opportunity to surround and slay Eldrin the Immortal Lord."

Seeing this, Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [the Daoist title of a powerful immortal lord associated with the primordial sun] spoke up. "In that case, I shall return to the Three Thousand Immortal Domains to see if I can invite them to emerge from seclusion and lend their aid."

"..."

Just as several Chaos Demon God and Great Encompassing Immortal Lord were discussing how to deal with Eldrin Chen, Eldrin Chen had already steered the Polarity Void Mirror and appeared within another region of Chaos.

He rendezvoused with the Violet Ultimate Ancient Phoenix and inquired directly, "Was the Opportunity and Fortune [a metaphysical concept representing a chance for great advancement or a pivotal turn of fate] successfully retrieved?"

"It is in hand."

The Violet Ultimate Ancient Phoenix nodded, a flicker of elation crossing its features.

Eldrin Chen gave a firm nod, declaring without hesitation, "Then we depart at once."

Upon returning to the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain, Exquisite Jiang and the others immediately came forward. Seeing Eldrin Chen's significant injuries, she could not help but ask with concern, "What happened?"

"We walked into an ambush, but fortunately, we recovered the Opportunity and Fortune."

Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath and then recounted the entire sequence of events to the assembled group.

After listening, Exquisite Jiang's expression shifted with alarm. "To think you would encounter your Great Path Rival [a destined adversary who shares a profound karmic connection and contends for the same pinnacle of the Great Path] so soon. It seems your rapid ascent has indeed drawn the attention of such beings."

"This was also inevitable."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but let out a soft sigh, a trace of helplessness stirring within his heart.

In truth, from the depths of his being, he still wished to maintain a low profile. His desire was to continue concealing his true cultivation base and combat prowess, ideally until he broke through to the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm. The longer he could delay, the better.

However, with the Chaos War Burst forth, the Returning Abyss's Seven Immortal Domains were inevitably drawn into the maelstrom of conflict.

Through two consecutive large-scale Chaos War campaigns, the Chen Immortal Clan had emerged victorious, securing vast quantities of resources and Opportunity and Fortune. Yet, this very success had also laid bare the true extent of their strength.

The Primordial Solar Immortal Lord, who had originally not planned to act immediately, could no longer sit idle. He was thus compelled to prematurely initiate the Great Path Contention, seeking to strangle Eldrin Chen in his cradle before his power could fully mature.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Fortunately, this time we discerned the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord's intentions, granting us time to prepare."

"Moving forward, we shall fortify the defenses of the Seven Great Immortal Domains and make ready to counter any moves from these individuals."

Upon hearing this, Nyssa Qu furrowed her brow slightly and said, "My concern is whether the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord might summon your other Great Path Rivals, joining forces to eliminate you in your nascent stage."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly at her words.

As far as Eldrin Chen knew, within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad realms of cultivation], each of the five Great Paths [fundamental cosmic laws or principles of cultivation] he cultivated had at least one or two Great Path Rivals [destined adversaries who walk the same cosmic path, locked in competition for its ultimate truths]. Among them were even existences at the level of a Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivator who has unified their understanding of a Great Path into a singular, primordial essence].

Furthermore, within the Southern Abyss Seven Domains [a specific region of the Immortal Domains known for its fierce competition], the number of Great Path Rivals for each Great Path likely had to be counted in the double digits.

Even if the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal associated with the primordial sun] only sought allies from within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, and even considering that these Great Path Rivals were also rivals to each other, that still meant facing at least five adversaries of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a pinnacle realm of immortality where one's golden core encompasses the cosmos] caliber.

"Five Great Path Rivals, and most of them are likely at the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the advanced phase of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm]. Among them, there's probably even one who has reached Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the absolute pinnacle and completion of that realm]."

"Add to that the Primal Chaos Kui Ox [a mythical beast born from primal chaos, resembling a one-legged ox] and the Primordial Era Silver Dragon [an ancient dragon from the dawn of time], among others..."

Eldrin Chen murmured slowly, his gaze growing increasingly grave.

If so many enemies were to join forces and attack the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain [Eldrin Chen's home territory], even Eldrin Chen could not guarantee that the Returning Abyss's Seven Immortal Domains [the seven domains under Eldrin Chen's protection] would certainly hold.

Seeing this, Exquisite Jiang took a deep breath and offered a strategy. "The Chaos War [a vast, epoch-spanning conflict between major powers] is currently at its most tense stalemate. If these individuals were to unite and attack us, it could very well give Departure Flame Demi-Ancestor [a powerful, ancient cultivator associated with departing flames] the opening he needs to break the deadlock."

"Therefore, the Blazeflame Imperial Lord [a supreme ruler associated with blazing flames] would never tolerate such a move. We can inform him of the situation. I believe he will personally issue warnings to those parties, buying us some precious breathing room."

Everyone present nodded in agreement. What the Chen Immortal Clan [the immortal clan founded by Eldrin Chen] needed most right now was time.

If only Eldrin Chen were granted another ten Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles], allowing his cultivation to break through to the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the late stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm], then every single difficulty they currently faced would be resolved with ease.

Even without a full ten Kalpa Tribulation, if they could secure just one or two cycles as a buffer—enough for Exquisite Jiang and the others to advance to the mid-stage of Great Encompassing [the Great Encompassing realm] and for Eldrin Chen's own power to progress further—they would at least possess the strength to stand and fight against these foes.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen made his way to the Great Hall and personally penned a letter to Blazeflame Imperial Lord.

He appealed to reason and emotion, detailing in the missive the potential chain reaction should the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain come under attack, before dispatching it into the Depths of Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse beyond ordered reality].

After completing this task, Eldrin Chen fell into deep contemplation for a long while before finally speaking. "Although Exquisite shares a bond with the two Great God Emperors, and those two Path Ancestor Immortal Sage [supreme beings who have mastered a Great Path and attained sagehood] also hold us in some regard, these venerable figures have long withdrawn from the affairs of the Mortal Dust [the mundane world of mortals]."

"In their pursuit of the Opportunity and Fortune [the chance and destiny] needed for their next great advancement, they reside year-round within the Depths of Chaos. The forms they leave behind in the Three Thousand Immortal Domains may not even be their true selves. Should true calamity befall us, we will likely have to rely on our own strength to resolve it."

Upon hearing his words, everyone present furrowed their brows slightly.

They all understood the truth in Eldrin Chen's words. From the perspective of a Path Ancestor Immortal Sage, the Great Path Contention [the inevitable struggles and trials on the path of cultivation] are a necessary trial for all disciples. They would never act as mere nursemaids for their juniors.

Furthermore, both Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang had forged a True Spirit Foundation [an indestructible spiritual foundation]. For them, true, permanent Death was impossible; at worst, they would lose their Great Path Authority [the authority and power over a Great Path they had claimed].

Therefore, if matters truly reached that dire point, it was uncertain whether these Divine Sovereign Immortal Sage would deign to lower themselves and intervene directly.

Contemplating this, Exquisite Jiang could not help but ask, "What do you mean?"

Eldrin Chen took a deep breath and then inquired, "In my view, we must strive to forge more alliances."

"Alliances?"

Eldrin Chen nodded and continued, "Let's start with Grand Nether Imperial Lord, with whom I have had dealings. Frigid Heaven Imperial Lord is also a highly respected senior figure within our Human Race. We can leverage our connections with Fellow Daoist Nether Phoenix and Fellow Path Sunder Heaven to deepen our relationship with them."

"Furthermore, Great Center Imperial Lord and Tai Cang Divine Emperor could also serve as potential allies for us."

Upon hearing this, Verdant Consort's brow furrowed slightly. "To establish such an alliance, the price we would have to pay would likely be immense," she said.

"I have a method in mind, though it carries a certain degree of risk."

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, then used his Chaos [the highest tier of immortal cultivation power] to seal the Great Hall before continuing. "We could use the Creation Cauldron [a legendary artifact capable of reforging a cultivator's foundation] to perform Foundation Reforging [a profound process to reconstruct and enhance a cultivator's innate potential] for the disciples of their sects, cultivating several Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm] with the innate talent to reach the Imperial Lord [a sovereign-level cultivation realm]."

Hearing this, Violet Consort Yan's expression changed drastically. "But in doing so," she said, unable to hide her concern, "the Creation Cauldron would risk exposure."

"That is precisely the risk involved."

Eldrin Chen took a deep breath before speaking, "Although I can seal their six senses and use the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path to obscure the Celestial Mechanism [the underlying principles and patterns of heaven and fate], such a heaven-defying act of Creation [the act of generating life or essence from nothingness] might stir the hearts of several Imperial Lord [a powerful cultivator who has established their own immortal domain]."

Upon hearing this, Exquisite Jiang's brow furrowed slightly. After a moment's contemplation, she said, "The Opportunity and Fortune [a chance encounter with great destiny or luck] for the Foundation Reforging [a divine ability that allows one to rebuild their cultivation foundation] could be explained as a supreme treasure left behind from my previous life, usable at most nine times."

"We can offer them four slots, but they must form an alliance with us to deter powerful enemies at the Imperial Lord level. Furthermore, they must agree to intervene on our behalf at least once when absolutely necessary."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Using the preparations from Exquisite Jiang's past life as an explanation was indeed a plausible story.

After all, the Supreme Lunar Imperial Lord was a peerless Imperial Lord of Quasi-Divine Sovereign [a realm just below that of a Divine Sovereign] caliber, one destined for the status of a Primordial Era Divine Sovereign [a supreme ruler from the dawn of time]. Had it not been for the Solar Heavenly Emperor [the Celestial Emperor of the Sun] scheming against her from the shadows in those bygone days, she would have long since ascended to become a lofty Primordial Era Divine Sovereign of the Human Race.

For a figure of such stature, leaving behind certain contingencies was entirely within expectations.